More than 400 concerned local residents from Epsom and Ewell, Sutton and Cheam and Worcester Park, attended SARA's Public Meeting at Bourne Hall on Monday 8th October 2007. The meeting was packed to capacity - with many residents having to stand at the back of the hall!
SARA's Hon Secretary, Mrs Vanessa Winkworth opened the meeting by introducing the platform speakers. The empty chair at Mrs Winkworth's right had been reserved for Epsom and Ewell's Conservative MP, Chris Grayling, who decided just hours before the meeting was due to commence that he would not after all attend and speak, as he had previously indicated that he would.
The meeting was chaired by Mr Bill Slaughter, Chairman of Stoneleigh and Auriol Residents' Association (SARA) (3rd left). The principal guest speaker was Mr David Smith, Chief Executive of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and Clerk to the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee (3rd right). Other speakers included RA County Councillor Nigel Petrie MBE (2nd left), Cllr Alan Winkworth, Stoneleigh Ward RA Councillor and Chairman of the NPJMC (2nd right), and special guest speaker, Mr Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam (far right).
SARA Chairman, Bill Slaughter, thanked residents for attending the meeting and gave an update on the SARA campaign. Mr Slaughter warned residents to treat with “extreme caution” the hastily-released statement by Conservative councillor Mr Nick Skellett, Leader of Conservative-controlled Surrey County Council, that SCC would offer the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee (JMC) a 125 year lease (subject to as yet undetermined conditions) on Nonsuch Park and its associated buildings including the Mansion House. Bill Slaughter pointed out that the offer has not been discussed or ratified by the SCC Executive and, as such, could not be relied upon. He went on to pour scorn on Chris Grayling’s claim that he had single-handedly, “brokered a deal that secured the future of the Mansion House”, saying that it had actually been the high profile, seven-month long campaign by SARA that had forced the SCC leader into announcing a U-turn on selling off the Mansion House for commercial development. Bill Slaughter strongly criticised Surrey County Council for commissioning - at a cost of more than £100,000.00 - a secret report by a firm of estate agents (Bidwells), on various sell-off options, saying that the money could instead have been better spent on much-needed refurbishment of the Mansion House. Mr Slaughter warned residents that the continued involvement of Bidwells could eventually land county council taxpayers with a bill in excess of £250,000.00.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Chief Executive, Mr David Smith, outlined the history of Surrey County Council’s acquisition of Nonsuch Park from the Farmer family in the 1930’s and detailed the arrangements that had placed the Park and Mansion House under the control of the JMC. Mr Smith explained that the JMC - jointly administered by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and the London Borough of Sutton - had been responsible for the management and upkeep of Nonsuch Park for almost 70 years without any funding from Surrey County Council who, without warning, had suddenly removed the operational control and management of Nonsuch Park from the JMC earlier this year. Mr Smith revealed that SCC has gone back on a promise to provide £95,000 to cover the loss of revenue following the JMC’s removal, saying that only half that amount was now being offered.
Surrey County Councillor, Nigel Petrie MBE (RA, Epsom & Ewell North Division), who has strongly opposed SCC’s intervention in the running of Nonsuch Park, explained to residents that if the 125 year lease is confirmed, preserving public access to the Mansion House has to be addressed and the JMC must be in a position to negotiate funding arrangements that will secure the future of Nonsuch Park and the Mansion House. Councillor Petrie assured residents that he will continue to press for the best possible outcome and he will monitor closely the progress of talks, between SCC and the JMC regarding the lease, which are due to take place on 22nd October.
Stoneleigh Ward RA councillor and Chairman of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee (JMC), Cllr Alan Winkworth, explained the JMC’s function in managing the day-to-day operations of the Park and House – a role which the independently-run JMC has performed for almost seventy years. Cllr Winkworth reported his dismay at Surrey County Council’s sudden and unwarranted interference in the management of Nonsuch Park – which had forced the JMC to put on hold plans to award a new catering contract at the Mansion House which would have provided much-needed revenue to maintain and improve the condition and facilities of the House.
Sutton and Cheam’s Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Burstow, addressed the meeting. Mr Burstow, who has been a consistent opponent of SCC’s plan to sell the Mansion House for commercial development, praised SARA’s campaign and told residents of his strong commitment to the future of Nonsuch Park and the Mansion House. In a moving anecdote, Paul Burstow recalled that his own wedding reception had been held at the Mansion House some years ago. Mr Burstow gave his personal assurance to the meeting that he would do everything in his power to ensure that control of Nonsuch Park and the Mansion House would be returned to the JMC, under a long lease with fair and equitable terms, ensuring that public access to the Park and Mansion House will be retained for generations to come.
