A four-storey, 57-bed hotel will be built in Epsom town centre after the council’s planning committee approved plans last night, despite concerns raised by residents and councillors over parking, smoking and drainage issues.

The Comrades Club in The Parade, Epsom, will be demolished to make way for the Premier Inn hotel and replaced with new club facilities.

From May: Four-storey hotel in The Parade, Epsom would "guarantee future" of Comrades Club, but residents criticise "ugly" plans

Multi-national hoteliers Whitbread’s fresh bid for the site was approved by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s planning committee last night.

Residents and councillors had raised concerns over parking, the proximity of the hotel’s smoking area to the pavement, and drainage of sewage from the building.

Surrey Comet:

But in May a spokesman for the Comrade Club (pictured above) said 121 members had unanimously approved their support for the application at a group meeting as it would “would guarantee the future of the club”.

Bob Blaker, a member of the club’s management committee, told the council’s planning committee: “We are a vibrant community institution in Epsom and for many of our members the club is a huge part of their lives.

“Our current building is old and expensive to maintain, but the new facilities will be clean, safe and easy to maintain, and will allow us to offer our members more activities.

“This development is the best chance for survival.”

Surrey Comet:
An artist's impression of what the 57-bed hotel would look like from behind

Ten committee members voted to approve Whitbread’s plans. Two abstained.

Councillor Tina Mountain was one of two committee members – alongside Labour’s Vince Romagnuolo – who abstained from the vote.

She said: “With (guests in) 57 rooms, staff, and local visitors to the club, where on earth are they going to park? We’re going to be desperately short of car parking space in Epsom.

“The smoking area is right by the pavement, and I think that is thoroughly disgusting.”

She also asked: “Has anyone checked the drainage system – can it cope?”

Dozens of residents had also written to the council objecting to the application.

Surrey Comet:

Mr Corbin wrote: “I do believe the Comrades Club building (pictured above) should be redeveloped, but with no parking allocations in place this application puts local residents in very difficult position.”

Diane Baker of Heathcote Road, Epsom, wrote: “Epsom used to be a pleasant green town to live in [but] it is gradually becoming more and more congested and the buildings uglier and uglier.”

From April 2009: New Travelodge hotel for Epsom

From August 2011: Residents concerned over Epsom town centre hotel plans

Previous applications for an 82-bedroom hotel and 77-bedroom hotel on the site – both of which would also have been four storeys high – were rejected in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

From January 2012: Councillors defer decision on Travelodge for second time

From November 2012: Travelodge axe second Epsom hotel shock

From December 2012: Push for hotel in Epsom continues without Travelodge

They were rejected because plans were deemed to be “out of keeping with the character and context of the surrounding area” because of the building’s “bulk, height and mass”, according to Mark Berry, head of planning and building control at Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

Surrey Comet:

Owen Ellender, a development manager for Whitbread, the agent for Premier Inn, said: “There will be the benefit of new jobs, the investment (the hotel) will bring to the area, and not least of all, the additional footfall it will bring.

“It is obviously incredibly important that we engage with our neighbours and we will do that, as well as work alongside retailers.”

To view the application, search for 15/01839/FUL on the council’s planning portal at www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk

What do you think? Get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk or on 020 8722 6483.