Run-down "eyesore" gets £700,000 cash boost

11:05am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in News By Alexandra Rucki

Run-down "eyesore" in the Longmead Estate, Ewell gets £700,000 cash boost Run-down "eyesore" in the Longmead Estate, Ewell gets £700,000 cash boost

A run-down, boarded-up eyesore is set to be brought back to life after councillors approved a £700,000 revamp.

The development in Hollymoor Lane, in the Longmead Estate, Ewell, will be made up of social and affordable housing. There will also be a shop and a doctor's surgery.

A specialist is being hired to oversee the project, which has gone to tender and responses are expected back this Autumn.

The site is currently vacant apart from one convenience store and the area has become an eyesore, with flats above the shop boarded up.

It was originally earmarked for development as far back as 2010, but this was pushed back after a housing association withdrew from the project.

The site used to include the Sefton Arms pub, which was demolished following a campaign led by Councillor Sheila Carlson.

Coun Carlson said: "This project has been dragging on for over a decade now and after so many broken promises I'm delighted that we're moving towards more family housing, a new shop and a doctor's surgery which will serve local people."

Angela Pettifer, a graphic designer, who lives nearby in Ormonde Avenue, said: "We have never liked it, it is a big ugly brown building - it looks really run down.

"We are very happy at this news and we hope it happens quickly. If they wanted to get a big supermarket involved we wouldn't mind."

Plans for the site are expected to be made public once a successful bidder is chosen.

Comments(9)

markymarksurrey says...
8:12pm Wed 29 Aug 12

They said this before and nothing happened.
http://www.getsurrey
.co.uk/news/s/204529
4_rundown_estate_to_
get_shortterm_improv
ements

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Jill Macdonald says...
7:46am Thu 30 Aug 12

Glad at last that they are sorting out this area, what the local people are calling "Little Beirut". Our thanks go to Mr & Mrs Patel who have steadfastly kept trading throughout these years. Ms Pettifer states that "we" wouldn't mind a big Supermarket - she doesn't speak for me - I don't want a big Supermarket "we" are happy to stand by the loyalty of Mr. & Mrs. Patel who have continued to trade over the years.

One thing I am concerned about is the parking situation - there is a lot of passing traffic who currently, and over the years, park in the service road - this will go in the plans - and it is bound to create a lot of parking and traffic problems on the relatively small Hollymoor Lane - especially with residential parking opposite and buses frequently passing and stopping.

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CatherineDarcy says...
9:34am Thu 30 Aug 12

'Little Beirut'?! I have never heard it called that - what a bizarre and misguided comparison. As far as we are concerned, the problems ended with the Sefton Arms pub. It's a quiet area, apart from one or two noisy households, but families come and go. I feel very safe here.

I think getting a large supermarket chain involved could inject some cash into the project and get things going - this development has been stalled for too long.

Hopefully the new shop premises will be larger, because they don't currently have space to stock all the essentials, and longer opening hours would be good. Looking forward to having a doctor's surgery within 2 minutes' walk as well.

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CatherineDarcy says...
9:42am Thu 30 Aug 12

Jill Macdonald wrote:
Glad at last that they are sorting out this area, what the local people are calling "Little Beirut". Our thanks go to Mr & Mrs Patel who have steadfastly kept trading throughout these years. Ms Pettifer states that "we" wouldn't mind a big Supermarket - she doesn't speak for me - I don't want a big Supermarket "we" are happy to stand by the loyalty of Mr. & Mrs. Patel who have continued to trade over the years.

One thing I am concerned about is the parking situation - there is a lot of passing traffic who currently, and over the years, park in the service road - this will go in the plans - and it is bound to create a lot of parking and traffic problems on the relatively small Hollymoor Lane - especially with residential parking opposite and buses frequently passing and stopping.
I think the term "we" would probably be referring to her own family rather than you and other strangers!

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sfocata says...
10:20am Thu 30 Aug 12

There's a very good reason why you might not want a large supermarket involved in a small-scale development like this. They destroy diversity by not tolerating (and, if necessary, swallowing up) competition. Small businesses excel in their own specific fields, leaving opportunities for other businesses. "Tesco-ization" is a derogatory term for a very good reason!

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CatherineDarcy says...
12:17pm Thu 30 Aug 12

sfocata wrote:
There's a very good reason why you might not want a large supermarket involved in a small-scale development like this. They destroy diversity by not tolerating (and, if necessary, swallowing up) competition. Small businesses excel in their own specific fields, leaving opportunities for other businesses. "Tesco-ization" is a derogatory term for a very good reason!
There is no competition in this area! We only have the one shop. If there are any others within a 10 minute walk, please let me know. :P

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Angela M says...
3:41pm Thu 30 Aug 12

I just googled 'Hollymoor Lane plans', and I am actually quite concerned by the proposed scheme.

The green beside the current building is to become a massive three storey building. Crossing the road there is already terrible because of the blind corner - this will make it worse. Not only that, but a building of that size will be very imposing.

In total the development will comprise 26 family-sized flats and houses.

I don't think this is about improving our community - they're just trying to cram an extra 100 people into an already crowded residential area. An extra GP surgery is good, but what about school places - and where are these extra children going to play if our green space is taken away? The car park?

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CatherineDarcy says...
3:56pm Thu 30 Aug 12

26 extra families?!?!!! Yep, I'd much rather have the supermarket, thank you!

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markymarksurrey says...
12:51am Fri 31 Aug 12

I was certain this was being earmarked for a Tesco Local? I could have got the wrong development, but they were putting in a big sum to help redevelop the area and demolish the existing building?Can anyone elaborate

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