Exciting plans to turn historic farmland into a new country park near Ewell have been welcomed.

Having previously promised to create a new public open space, Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis has revealed the authority has set its sights on Tolworth Court Farm, a 107-acre plot in Old Kingston Road which has been farmed since Norman times.

The site, which is already open to the public, has seen visitor numbers drop in the past 14 years, after barriers were put up to prevent vehicle access following a series of traveller incursions and an illegal rave in 2000.

Kingston Council is now putting together a proposal that could see deer, horses and a visitor centre put on to the land. People would also be able to enjoy picnics, walks and educational visits.

Residents’ Association Councillor Eber Kington, who represents Ewell Court on Epsom Council and sits on Surrey County Council, welcomed the plans for the site which borders Ewell.

Coun Kington said: "It actually sounds quite exciting and it’s always good when there is further opportunity for our younger generation to get educated about wildlife."

He said that it made a nice change from plans to build supermarkets and similar developments, adding: "To have something that will generate family friendly additional open space, it’s lovely.

"I’m sure it will spark a lot of interest locally. It is something that I think will be very much supported."

Labour Councillor Sheila Carlson, who represents Court ward on Epsom Council, said she used to go running across what she described as "scrubland" at Tolworth Court Farm.

Coun Carlson said: "I would have thought parkland has got to be the way to go for a site like this because the alternative is someone is going to say ‘it’s a piece of unused scrubland let’s build on it’. That’s my worry."

With new plans by Tesco to build 700 homes on the nearby Toby Jug site, she said: "Those people would I’m sure benefit from that open space being used."

She said there would have to be parking provision and fences to stop deer from escaping and running across Kingston Road.

She said: "They obviously need to look at it and how they are going to do it, but I can only see it being a protection for the land."

Jacqueline Healy, of Gatley Avenue, Ewell, welcomed the plans, but raised concerns about the possibility of deers getting out and causing traffic accidents.

She said: "It’s certainly a lot more gratifying that the redevelopment of a bleak no man’s land. It would be nice to see something a bit more interesting there."

Although no budget has been set for the project, Kingston Council is expected to bid for funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Mayor’s Outer London fund and other educational grants.