A wish list of improvements to Ewell Village is nearly £5,000 closer to completion, after Surrey County Council (SCC) pledged funds toward projects helping shopping parades across the county.
Ewell Village Traders received £4,952 to go toward the cost of replacing planters, screening bins from the public, and replacing a derelict telephone box with a bright, traditional red one that would be used to house a book swap scheme.
The Grove, Ewell. Pic credit: Googler Maps
The planned improvements would also see a re-design of the entrance to The Grove, which is situated between café All Things Nice and the Country Clothing Store.
The site was a Saxon burial ground and would have been chosen as a burial ground because it would have been easier to dig through the sandy earth there, according to David Brooks, museum assistant at Bourne Hall.
Brian Angus, chairman of Ewell Village Residents’ Association said: “The end of The Grove is very much a focal point in Ewell Village, and if we can improve that we can make the village more attractive.”
Ewell Grove School children are joined by Nicci and Sara from All Things Nice and Town Centres Manager, Alanna Coombes, to show their unhappiness with the old phone box.
The project at The Grove could also be in line for further funding from Tesco. The supermarket giant diverts funds raised by its 5p carrier bag charge toward local causes, and The Grove is currently in contention at polls conducted in stores in Leatherhead, Ashtead, Banstead, Epsom and Ewell.
From November: Town centres manager backs project for Saxon burial site, The Grove in Ewell High Street, in Tesco poll
Nicci Potts, co-owner of local business, All Things Nice, told the Epsom Guardian: “The need for change – especially of the horrible phone box – is ringing bells with lots of businesses and residents in the village.
“The children are really keen on the idea of the micro library which we think could be a real asset to the village.”
The grant was part of nearly £50,000 awarded to boost local shopping parades and village centres across Surrey.
From last week: Elmbridge shopping parades given more than £14,000 in funding from Surrey County Council
Traders in Walton on Thames were given £9,992 towards planters, banners, signage, and improve the connection between High Street and Bridge Street.
Molesey Business Association were given £4,867 to provide street dressing for events, flagpoles and flags, and area branding to promote Bridge Road as a retail and restaurant destination.
Surrey County Council leader David Hodge approved all the funding only after “thinking long and hard” because of the enormous strain on finances from rising demand for services like adult social care.
Cllr Hodge said: “With ever growing demand for services like adult social care making money extremely tight, we had to think long and hard about providing these grants.
“But we decided to go ahead because not only will the money we’ve given these projects help secure more than £3.1 million of benefits for Surrey, it will ensure our experience of living and working in the county continues to be great while also boosting our economic prosperity throughout our communities.”
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