Information received 5^th February 2015

"I am writing to give you an update on a number of local issues. 

• Firstly, you may have seen just before Christmas that the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group has run into financial difficulties because of work pressures in the NHS. In total it expects to have a deficit this year which amounts to about 3% of its total budget. 

This situation probably sounds pretty familiar – we have seen similar problems at the Epsom and St Helier Trust in recent years, and no sooner does one organisation seem to sort out its problems than the other starts to experience them. 

My first concern was that this would lead to another discussion about the future of acute services at Epsom. But in fact the different organisations involved in our local NHS services seem to be taking a very welcome and rather different approach. 

They have launched a project to find ways of joining up what they do and sharing resources rather than simply making cutbacks to make the numbers add up. This involves a closer working partnership between the bits of the NHS that provide hospital, GP, community and mental health services. 

It’s early days yet, but I am hopeful that this will lead to what I have argued for many years – that Epsom should become more of a local health campus providing a wider range of services to the area. I will keep you updated in due course as their work continues. 

• I have had a meeting with Reigate and Banstead Council about the issue of backland development in Nork. I am concerned that the scale of development in some streets is still changing the character of the area inappropriately. 

    The new national planning framework should give local councils much greater autonomy over local development, as long as they have a credible plan that can support essential development. The detailed part of that work is currently under way in Reigate and Banstead.  

The Council are planning detailed discussions with local residents over the coming months about how to find a better balance for the area in the next iteration of the local Plan. I will keep a careful watch on this as I do think that development of many parts of the area continues to go much too far. 

• David Baker has sent me a message saying that the Ashtead level crossing refurbishment timetable has now been confirmed. Work is due to start in August and will be completed over four or five weekends over the following six months. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the work will involve a number of closures of the crossing. 

The provisional dates are: 

8th and 9th of August 22:00 to 15:00
26th and 27th of September midnight Saturday to mid afternoon Sunday
28th and 29th of November 22:00 to 15:00
12th and 13th of December 22:00 to 15:00
Plus possibly 16th and 17th January 

It will be a pain while the work is done, but hopefully when it is finished the breakdowns of the last few years will be a thing of the past. Residents will be getting more details nearer the time. 

• For those involved in local businesses, I am holding the latest Business Breakfast on February 13th. The purpose is to share and discuss local business issues and network at the same time. If you would like more details please email office@epsomconservatives.org.uk. 

• Finally, if you have a few hours to volunteer each month, the Friends of Bourne Hall Museum are looking for extra helpers in their shop. I said I would put the word around for them. If you are interested, do drop in to the museum. They would love to talk to you." 

This is one of Chris’s regular email updates for constituents. If you would like to reply to Chris please email him at: chris.grayling.mp@parliament.uk.

Chris also holds regular Advice Surgeries in the constituency.  These surgeries give Epsom & Ewell constituents the opportunity to discuss matters which are important to them.  If you would like to arrange a 15 minutes appointment please contact the constituency office on 01372 271036.