The council has warned residents of road closures and traffic diversions as work on the multi-million pound Plan E improvement works to Epsom town centre began, seven years after a draft plan was first approved.

The bus stand outside TK Maxx in Epsom High Street is to be moved to the back of the Ashley Centre in Ashley Avenue as part of the plan’s 13-week-long first phase. Work began yesterday (Monday, January 9).

The majority of the work to improve the town’s roads and public spaces is scheduled to be carried out Mondays to Fridays, with lane closures between 9.30am and 4pm in Ashley Road and Ashley Avenue.

The entire plan is scheduled to be completed by October 2017.

From August 2015: What makes Epsom town centre junction so dangerous?

Planners will also:

  • change South Street to two-way;
  • change the junction with South Street / West Street / High Street (West) to provide a right turn into South Street;
  • change the junction with South Street / Ashley Avenue ‘Playhouse’ junction to allow vehicles to go southbound towards Dorking Road and provide pedestrian crossing facilities;
  • widen the pavement outside Metro Bank; 
  • change the signalling at the Spread Eagle junction to include a countdown for pedestrians, allowing them to better time their crossing.

From February 2010: Public consultation on plans to improve Epsom Town Centre begins

The council’s Strategy and Resources Committee first approved a draft document for Plan E – a long-term strategy for improving leisure, cultural and recreational facilities, maintain accommodation and enhancing retail units in the borough – in January 2010.

Surrey Comet:
The bus stand outside TK Maxx (pictured above) in Epsom High Street is to be moved to the back of the Ashley Centre in Ashley Avenue

Plan E is being funded by a £2.7million grant from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership – a coalition of local authorities and businesses in south London, Surrey and Sussex – to Surrey County Council, which is leading the works.

A spokesperson for Epsom and Ewell Borough Council advised: “In order that the works are carried out as safely and efficiently as possible, temporary lane and road closures with traffic diversions and some parking and loading suspensions will be required when necessary whilst the works take place.”

For more information, visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/epsomhighwayimprovements

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