Epsom ETAOXC-MAIDCPTUHSROeeGUpEagDSeE2MAGGIE CGPOEATNRSCKEWIRNONRGSSAEWSSOeTeERpAaSgFeF3IC BPSSeLUOeACpYOaCgHeMEO4S!USWSEHPAATNTAOSHHAIOLEWDA eMpsomguaOrdian.Tco.ukHERJan’uSary12,2017 60p H‘suTtHoohpoueaskelt,wJ’tEaasasacwnwmsqdashueyutaehsctfloihrantAothema’msePpuwbehcueuhihrmbel.alil’teeRss TBREAK January12,2017 JCacaqulellinfeoPereblleasswaidschehwaillnnotggieveuapafntde,inrseet,hxer-sBonlAertnhurh.Reighitm:Mothberoanydsbonuwhlelniehedwasbaetodfdolerretakingownlife NEWS WHAT’S ON SPORT BtNctpkllaTRploPyaheionpbhiEHuIowrdpiluNJmPlPeoanlvreE.naehrPnaOongeti.l’ndcfleAonsswgemRehoqinrowgrLTsrm@haAusbnis1EqmaiLtecteehu8amoRhwLvaelr-ekcsiEyeRlitt’snoel.nN:eieicieionroemsaragn-bl.auKfmracglukmdmtP-acIahol,saNfwetlomiolMefiietRdwttoerttbhpeOefoshnisaalraedtSroeasmhmirdc.sSnytgh,oeoshienwAnlfuraaei4yoe.nnirrar2ucstgg,hagsihledcodorofiucoesmniifmroenrwfeusbSle‘Atatnuahathiiserltnnfloetl-----ha1bpdtbfPpssbprhim0bureoreoeaos-eAHToeaiuylrlytmeniiwlvslkeshsecriiraegersee,eataer.cnwah.sE,acrseoumItu-htthdrbmlnoetste–driaiuoeedlushetladsdmtthtewnboihkeehmf.rjiandpaaereseofhgiossdtorcmwasteeethmthwfhtdrfestiieieuehstevfadaprhtiyreeidytlridwttoanydoncJhoybyoioeopaeetybnihoragmhyaaSrnegesMamrrrmlgahmeanaeest,sssoencdeegiopowbrtsPhettliorsnsutideisoAeikbtmetebeGnfhey–erwairbewncrtnirflwhaheoaeoaehhoneeuugsarrrttiirnn.dooeeeerssss-mppygtfdhtthtAstohhhhaaoeuuoairuekmeeeeiSTatnnrrtd.enrhheehaeoogH.ronsdheuplneiesHtsdenaaeprhssoedoieasegrwn’tamasueiusrgsildr.sfldaoalwddlpat,r,oiIsfiuy:ieaotnbhtdnacn“haaercmugotnhhnTsbattanhpl’htaideribhwtltererlnidvs,drovoooeetat,sgeob,hpesnhspvbshankeuredeeeeaesnemtepsmlr.nthretr.dl.h’sianHeyoahssc.atrwchewdiikeeiegwnomnMeedileeiovwnlgshn,dcn,ibesigmwanagltaweroesiastgevnhePyvahwfhdesudieesreoeagureanpenwflantbuycribtshhfstoeohorftelthehaouereeamlltnddaeeeerrsssttwthBlsscadobmlpeihehovnelooelageeceAA“euaeorwdssesuTnrttrnsrnbthprsthMthaoott2uehaA.rahoteose,lyetme7ebnutiklreab0prmosiltlrpneue0tiaruahsoasnpdciwrlhuwsfHenrlheleiotieriaasenahdig.rep’wycngshgsnespTeehtthSnfaauhttsshraLoioestabheoSatbturuatmilihhomfctrewiorrto’uheaissheunornhhivahlosrnmrdwgeches,eoiTeimtedplabhvbetmshitthsaroeuoeaoi.abuanerrnmttmemdpsnemprsMtfoieneEu.aoheatt.ctugypsprIoosdesefeeifpse,isPlCbdao.vnuhhiaeunmoetootpiiec’llddofssst-----, Gridlock Playhouse Sutton earns fears as panto hailed as replay with roadworks one of the best AFC in FA begin ever staged Cup 02 sold e er Page3 Page4 Page44 h w p 9 772040383030 0 6 EpsomGuardian www.epsomguardian.co.uk facebook.com/epsomguardian ACID HOUSE PARKING WOES BOOM! WHAT A SHOW EX-MP URGED MAGGIE CONCERNS AS TRAFFIC PLAYHOUSE PANTO HAILED A TO ACT GETS WORSE SUCCESS Seepage2 Seepage3 Seepage4 epsomguardian.co.uk January 12, 2017 60p MOTHER’S ‘Hewassuchapure soul,andthat’swhat upsetsmesomuch. That’swhatthebullies tookawayfromhim’ JacquelinePeebles HEARTBREAK JacquelinePeeblessaidshewillnotgiveupand,inset,hersonArthur.Right:Motherandsonwhenhewasatoddler Call for law change after ex-Blenheim boy bullied before taking own life REPORTER bullies – or their parents – are taken against them. Ms Peebles mesomuch.That’swhatthebul- PIPPAALLEN-KINROSS prosecutediftheycommitserious saidhersonneverrecoveredfrom liestookawayfromhim. pippa.allen@ abuse. theappallingevent. “Thebulliesshouldbemadeac- london.newsquest.co.uk Arthurwasfiveyearsoldwhen Theimpactwasmadeclearafter countablefortheiractions.If not hewassubjectedtoahorrificor- Arthur’sdeath,shesaid,whenshe thebulliesthentheirparents,it’s THEgrievingmotherofasonwho deal while he playing with his founddisturbingdrawingshehad howtheparentsbringthemup. killedhimself afteryearsof bul- 10-year-old sister Jayme near to done as a child, showing figures Arthur was a former pupil of lyingiscallingforachangeinthe their old home in Slade Green hangingfromropes. BlenheimHighSchoolinEpsom, lawtomakebulliesmoreaccount- Park,Erith. Shesaid:“Thosethreeboyswere and attended South Thames Col- ablefortheiractions. His mother said three teenage theoneswhobrokehim,andthen legeMertonwherehemanagedto Jacqueline Peebles, 42, is still boys attempted to hang Arthur the other bullies picked away at secure a place at university and comingtotermswithhergriefaf- fromamakeshiftnoose,butwere him.Hedidn’teventellmeabout waspreparingtohavesomeofhis terher18-year-oldsonArthurSte- prevented from doing so by his therestof thebullyingwhenhe shortstoriespublishedbeforehis phenson committed suicide last sister.Insteadtheybeathimand gotolder.Ithadbeengoingonfor death. Novemberinthefamilyhomein smearedhimwithdogmessbefore yearsandyears,andhenevertold Anonlinepetitionsetuptosup- BurnhamRoad,Morden. beingchasedawaybyMsPeebles. me.Hewasapropersensitivelittle port Arthur’s Law has received Nowsheiscampaigningfor‘Ar- The teenagers were spoken to puresoul,thatone.Hewassucha over2,700signatures,butMsPee- thur’sLaw’:alawthatwouldmean police,butnofurtheractionwas puresoul,andthat’swhatupsets blessaysshehasmoretodo. 2 NEWS 02087226301 January12,2017 Snow show Newly released Government papers showed Archie Hamilton urged Thatcher to clamp down Ex-MP urged PM to act on acid era in the area THE Met Office has issued a snow warning for every regionof theUKthisweek– REPORTER privateparty,MrCokesaid. lemwithacidhouseparties apartfromLondonandsouth CRAIGRICHARD MargaretThatcherwho In a handwritten note on isthenuisancecausedbythe eastEngland. craig.richard@ wasPrimeMinisterfrom Mr Hamilton’s letter, the noise. The police wish that Severe weather warnings london.newsquest.co.uk 1979to1990 PrimeMinisterwasaskedif theywerecalled‘payparties’. have been issued across the Picturecredit:PA/PAWIRE theHomeOfficeshouldpro- “Drugs are not the main UKasamassof coldairthat MARGARETThatcherurged videabriefingonthepowers issue.Thepartiesareaform originated in Canada blows the government to clamp policehadtocontrolthepar- of unlicensed public enter- infromthenorthwithsnow down on acid house parties ties. tainment for which people showersexpected.Thesnow afterpromptsfromthenMP Mrs Thatcher responded: buytickets.Whatisneededis willhitmanynorthern,east- forEpsomandEwell,Archie “Yesifthisisanew‘fashion’ awayofhittingattheprofits ern and western coasts but Hamilton,accordingtonew- we must be prepared for it madebytheorganisers.This many inland areas and the lyreleasedofficialfiles. andpreferablypreventsuch shoulddiscouragethecraze.” southcoastwillbesafe. Mr Hamilton alerted Mrs thingsfromstarting.” But as officials discussed This will likely save Lon- Thatcher to an acid house Acid house music, which introducing a private mem- donfromsnowbutitwillstill party–anoisyall-nightrave was linked with the rise of ber’s bill to halt the trend, be cold with strong north- – in 1989, and asked if the recreational drugs such as Malcolm Rifkind, Secretary westerlywindsandtempera- HomeOfficeshouldprovidea ecstasy,gainedpopularityin ofStateforScotland,stressed turesdippingbelowfreezing. briefingonthepowerspolice degreetowhichpolltaxdom- the acid house “fashion” to Britaininthelate1980s.Huge legislation should not dis- Jenny Rourke, Met Office hadtocontroltheparties. inated government thinking Mrs Thatcher’s attention unlicensedpartieswereheld criminateagainstthosehav- meteorologist, said: “A cold Theprimeministercalled inthelate1980s,andthatsen- afteralertinghertoaparty across Britain between 1988 ingharmlessfun,thenewly spell of weather will affect forimmediateactiontopre- tries at Faslane naval base held near his uncle’s house and1989asthedancemusic releaseddocumentsshow. theUKfromWednesdayon- ventthespreadof suchpar- were ordered to shoot sus- inBentleyinHampshireon movement spread, earning On December 5, 1989, he wards. With strong north- ties,asresidentscomplained pectedintruders. August19,1989. theperiodthenickname“the warnedHomeSecretaryDa- westerlywindsallareaswill of beingkeptuplateatnight Mrs Thatcher’s efforts He forwarded the Prime secondsummeroflove”. vid Waddington: “The point feelthecoldandtherewillbe by revellers, Cabinet Office against acid house parties Minister a letter from his Despite the link between has been made that the of- snow showers, especially in papers released by the Na- ledtolegislationtacklingthe uncle,GeraldCoke,whowas acidhouseandecstasy,Car- fence to which the relevant northernandwesternareas. tionalArchivesatKew,west dancemovementthroughthe “verydisturbed”bythenoisy olyn Sinclair, of the Gov- penalties would attach will “With wintry weather an- London,show. Entertainments (Increased rave which had lasted until ernment policy unit, said have to be very carefully ticipated later this week, Therevelationcomesfrom Penalties) Act 1990, also re- 7.30am. illegal substances were not drafted if we are to avoid we’ve issued weather warn- the Cabinet Papers for 1989 ferred to as the Acid House There was a “feeling of the “main issue” with the catching entirely innocent ingsforsnowandwindand and 1990. which were re- Bill, which heightened pun- collectiveangerandhelpless- “craze”. eventssuchasabarndance.” weadvisepeopletocheckthe leasedtoday(December30)at ishments for those organis- ness” among residents who In a memo to the Prime The Entertainments (In- latest forecast and weather theNationalArchives. ingpartieswithoutlicences. had been told police “could MinisteronOctober12,1989, creased Penalties) Act was warningsbeforetheytravel.” The papers also show the MrHamiltonfirstbrought donothing”becauseitwasa she wrote: “The main prob- passedthefollowingyear. January12,2017 www.epsomguardian.co.uk NEWS 3 Concerns grow as parking Rapist jailed for 14 years A RAPIST who repeatedly Shealsotoldthecourtthat issue gets ‘worse & worse’ assaulted a woman, threat- Webster’s attacks were care- enedtokillher,heldaknife fullytargetedonpartsof her toherthroat,andchippedher bodythat“youcouldn’treally teethhasbeensentencedto14 see”. yearsinprison. “I was always covered in Scott Webster, 27, from bruises and had grab marks Brier Road, Tadworth, was on my legs and arms,” she sentencedatCroydonCrown said. REPORTER CPZ,70percentof residents CourtonFriday,January6. “I was stupid. I often CRAIGRICHARD in the affected area need to AjuryfoundWebsterguilty thought I deserved it and craig.richard@ approveit. of ninecountsof rape,three madeithappen.” london.newsquest.co.uk CllrOlneyadded:“Mycyn- counts of assault, and two Shekeptherbruiseshidden ical mind says that Surrey countsof assaultbypenetra- fromfriendsandfamilywith PARKING is getting “worse CountyCouncilwant70per tionafteraneight-daytrialat longclothing,evenduringhot and worse on a daily basis” centof residentstosaythey CroydonCrownCourtinNo- summertemperatures,prose- due to inflexible traffic con- getaCPZ,forwhichresidents vember. cutor,MrSimonGledhilltold trol measures, a borough pay£50each. Hewasalsoclearedof one thecourt. councillorclaims. “But most people don’t count of rape in a public But she progressively be- Drivers avoiding restrict- wish to do that as it often place. gan to confide in her sister ingparkingmeasuresacross doesn’t affect them. They On one occasion, Webster after she reported Webster EpsomandEwellhavecreat- usetheircarstocommuteto held a knife to his victim’s tothepoliceforbitingheron ed an “inconvenient” situa- work or use the train; they throatandtoldherhewould the nose. Webster admitted tion for frustrated residents busoff earlyandwhenthey kill her, Croydon Crown this and was issued with a in Stamford Green ward, get back all the commuters Court heard during the tri- caution. where roads are crowded havegone. al.Healsotwicechippedher Websterwaslaterarrested withparkedcars. “But those who work at teethduringassaults. onSeptember28,2014. Councillor Martin Olney home, people with young Giving evidence from be- He denied all the allega- fears the congestion in his kids, shift workers and the hindascreen,thevictimtold tions and pleaded not guilty wardmaypreventpolicecars, ‘Inflexible’parkingmeasurescreatingunforeseencongestion, elderly,forexample,wouldall the court that while raping to all charges at Croydon ambulancesandfireengines acouncillorclaims benefitfromaCPZ. her: “He held my waist and Magistrates’CourtonMay10, fromgettingdownroads. to avoid the areas – which 2pm)nowI’mhavingtopark “Theredoesn’tappeartobe said, ‘I will be quick. The 2016. SurreyCountyCouncilcre- aredesignedtoreducecon- abouthalfamileaway. a mechanism for providing more you move, the more it Theoffencestookplacebe- atedcontrolledparkingzones gestion – and paid-for car “SometimeagoIsawade- abouttenparkingspaces,for willhurt.’” tween2011and2013. (CPZs)–areasinwhichpark- parks,havemovedtoStam- liverymanbackdownWheel- example.There’snosolution ingisonlyallowedoncertain fordGreenwardintheeast ersLane,buthecouldn’tget really.” Will tax rise go to a vote? partsoftheroadforalimited of theborough,accordingto throughbecauseof thecars. A county council spokes- timeunlessyouhaveapermit CllrOlney. This suggests emergency mansaid:“Werecentlyintro- –intheboroughthroughout Cllr Olney, a Wheelers vehicles couldn’t have got ducedanumberof residents COUNCILtaxcouldriseby16 vote,thepartyclaims. 2016. Lane resident and borough throughthereeither. parkingschemesaroundEp- percent,pendingtheresultof A council spokesman said TheCPZswereintroduced councillor for Stamford “It does cause inconven- som following an extensive aSurrey-widereferendum,ac- “severe” government cuts to following a borough-wide Green ward, said: “It’s get- ience.” consultation process and cordingtotheoppositionLib- thecounty’sfundinghadcre- parkingreviewin2015/16by ting worse and worse on a An annual parking per- thesewereagreedbythelocal eralDemocratparty. ated“hugefinancialpressure” SurreyCountyCouncil. dailybasis. mit for such an area costs committeeaftertheywerepe- Surrey County Council but itsfocuswasonconvinc- Butanunforeseenresultof “Ileftmyspaceat7.30am £50withadditionalcostsfor titioned to improve parking isconsideringplanstoputthe inggovernmenttoadequately theCPZsisthatdriverskeen today,and(speakingatabout visitor permits. To create a forresidentsinthetown. “large” increase to a public fundthecounty. ‘Final challenge’ for new stadium plan AFCWimbledon’splanstobuild ton Council in December 2015 builtin1927byarchitectsElcock a football stadium in Plough and finally given the all-clear and Sutcliffe, played an impor- Lane may be facing one final bytheMayorof London,Sadiq tantpartinthehistoryof World challengeasadecisionismade Khan,inAugustlastyear. WarTwoinWimbledon. on whether to list the current Workondemolishingthecur- Aswellasonsiteairraidshel- WimbledonStadiumjustmonths rent stadium is due to begin tersandananti-aircraftgun,the beforeitisduetobedemolished. inApril,withplansinplaceto stadiumwasalsothesitewhere Historic England have con- completethedemolitionandsite theBritishExpeditionaryForce firmedtheywillberevisitingthe preparation by the end of the assembledin1939beforedepart- stadiumtoassessthe“architec- year so that building work can ingforEurope,andwasahold- tural interest of the building” beginatthestartof2018. ing centre for refugees fleeing afteraninitialrequestforlisting However,stockcarcampaign- Europein1943. wasrefusedinearly2016. erandSWSAGmember,Michael SWSAG submitted a compre- However, the chief executive Burnage, said the group have hensive history of the stadium Laser-guided of AFCWimbledon,ErikSamu- been working hard to research running to 44-pages to Historic elson,hassaidhewouldbe“very and gather information about England, in comparison with leaflet delivery surprised” if the listing was the stadium’s architectural im- theiroriginalapplicationforlist- granted. portanceinafinalattempttoap- ing which Mr Burnage admits The reason behind this sud- pealtheoriginallistingdecision. hadtobe“rushed”and“basic” denturnineventslieswiththe AccordingtotheHistoricEng- duetotimeconstraints. SaveWimbledonStadiumAction landwebsite:“Listingmarksand Mr Burnage said: “It is very Group(SWSAG),whohavebeen celebrates a building’s special possible that Historic England campaigning to retain the cur- architecturalandhistoricinter- may still decline the listing, rentstadiumwithitsgreyhound est,andalsobringsitunderthe but with now new and sub- Cutoutwastetosavemoney. andstockcarracing,andprevent consideration of the planning stantial information in their Call08451999830orvisit AFC Wimbledon building their systemsothatitcanbeprotected hands, the decision has been ZoomInLeaflets.co.uk new 20,000 seater stadium in forfuturegenerations.” taken that it should be duly PloughLane. A listed building can still be examined. The new stadium, which will demolished with relevant con- “Willitchangeanything?Who beginasan11,000seaterbefore sentfromthelocalauthority:in knows?Butatleastnowtheyare being expanded, will also be thiscase,MertonCouncil. considering every facet of the joined by 602 flats and a range Amongstotherthings,MrBur- stadiumhistorythatwediscov- of shopsandamenitiesinplans nage said the group discovered eredbytraditionalbootsonthe thatwerefirstapprovedbyMer- that the stadium, which was ground.” Police appeal for vulnerable missing man AVULNERABLEmanwithlinks smallbuildandwithshortbrown ofurgency. toCroydonandBromleyhasgone hair. He has links to Croydon, missingfromTadworth. Hewaslastseenwearingablue South Norwood and Bromley Jon Gillam, also known as Nike hoody, brown chinos and areas. JonKiernan,33,waslastseenat blueAdidastrainers. Any sightings should be re- 1.30amonSunday,January8. Officers are appealing for the ported to Surrey Police on 101 He is described as white, be- public to contact them if they quoting reference number tween5ft7insand5ft8install,ofa haveseenMrGillamasamatter P17005283. 4 NEWS 02087226301 January12,2017 More than 17,000 people attended last year’s Epsom event ‘Oh yes it was’ - panto hailed as the best ever PRODUCTIONEDITOR PAULWARNER pwarner@ london.newsquest.co.uk THEcurtaincamedown onthe annualpantoheldattheEpsom PlayhouseonSunday. And organisers are hailing last year’s production as the “bestever”that washeldinthe town. Aladdin, that starred Boom! Heavy D, of Storage Hunters andCelebrityBigBrotherfame, waswellreceivedbycriticsand thethousandsof peoplewhoat- tendedtheshowsoverthefestive period. Therewere4,950transactions selling14,718ticketswelcoming Aladdinonhismagiccarpet more than 17,500 people over three-andahalfweeks–notbad marketingandadvertisingstrat- “I really enjoyed the singing foratheatrethatholdsjustover egies and made sure we were andthe dancing.Ilovedthedif- 400people. abletoreachandinsomecases ferentcostumesthedamewore. Thefirstticketsweresoldon targetneighbouringtownssuch “AndIreallylovedthegenie March23lastyearand thelast as Sutton, Cheam, Wallington, whokeptonsaying‘Boom’every ticket was purchased was on Banstead, Chessington, Leath- timehecameonstage. January8. erhead and Dorking as well as “And WishyWashywaswon- Inside the auditorium more EpsomandEwell.” derful too.Ienjoyeddoingthe than8,500icecreamsweresold One excited youngster said hand signals and ‘Dab’ every duringthe intervals. afterwatching thepantoonthe timeheappeared.Itwaswonder- AEpsomCouncilspokesman second lastday:“Theshowwas fulandIam looking forwardto said: “We revised and updated brilliant. thisyear’s.” January12,2017 www.epsomguardian.co.uk NEWS 5 Top chef to Action by Southern train drivers branded a ‘cynical ploy’ by company ANELDERLYcoupleweremore thanmorethan£1,000worseoff Two weeks of misery for overChristmasafterfallingvictim go on own toafraudster.Thecouplefrom Ewellreceivedaphonecall,pur- portedlyfromSantanderbank inEpsomHighStreet,onFriday, AFTERnearlyadecadeatthe December9.Thecallerstated helm of Restaurant Gordon commuters in latest strike therewasanissuewiththe Ramsay,ClareSmythhasse- couple’screditanddebitcards, curedalocationforherfirst whichneededtobereturned soloventure. andreissued.Shortlyafterwards, The multi-award winner atabout11am,amancameto andfirstfemaleBritishchef thedoor,claimingtobeacourier to hold and retain three fromthebank,andcollectedthe Michelin stars has signed a REPORTER cards.Officerstracedthecards, 15-yearleaseonpremisesat GRAINNECUFFE beforetheycouldbecancelled, 92KensingtonParkRoadin grainne.cuffe@ toHSBCandBarclay’sbanksin NottingHill,London. london.newsquest.co.uk BansteadHighStreet.Thefraud ClareleftRamsay’srestau- costthecouple£1,400.Surrey rantonRoyalHospitalRoad, PolicereleasedaCCTVstillof Chelsea,inApril2016toset SOUTHERN rail passengers amanwhousedthecardsin upherownrestaurantbutre- canexpecttwoweeksof mis- BansteadHighStreetbetween mainedwithintheGroupon eryasraildriversaresplit- 12.45pmand1pm.CallSurrey aconsultancybasis. ting their planned six-day Policeon101,quotingcrime Clare said: “It was pret- strikeintwo. referencenumber45160109400. ty fraught at times in 2016, Thestrike,overthedispute but I’m thrilled to have ex- aboutdriver-onlytrains,took WORKISexpectedtobegin changed on this particular placeon Monday,January9, withinthenextfortnightona site. It was my first choice andwillnowalsobeon10,11 seriesofroadsafetymeasures andIjustlovethehistoryof and13andagainonJanuary alongtheLowerRichmondRoad thebuilding.” 24,25and27. inPutney.Theworksinvolve The restaurant is expect- AspokespersonforSouth- designchangesoffourkeyjunc- ed to open late spring/early ern’sowningcompany,Govia tionswhichwillmakecrossing summer2017. Thameslink Railway, said theroadsaferandeasierfor Smythgrewuponfarmin themovewas“acynicalploy pedestrians.Thecarriageway NorthernIreland,theyoung- to minimise the impact on levelwillberaisedtoprovide estofthreechildren. Aslef’s drivers’ pay packets freestepaccessforpedestri- Clare first joined Restau- and maximises misery, dis- ans,andespeciallymakingit rantGordonRamsayin2002 ruptionandhardshipforpas- easierforwheelchairsusersand andworkedherwaythrough sengers”. parentswithbuggiestocrossat thekitchenrankstobecome Driver’s union Aslef said thejunctions. Senior Sous Chef. She left itwas“takingalonger-term TwoweeksoftravelchaosasSouthernstrikesaresplitintwo Londonin2005togainexpe- view”, warning the strikes AMANhasbeenarrestedat rienceabroaad. could spread to other train throughthemotions,turning bedonebutweare,atthemo- New Year’s weekend halted HeathrowAirportundertheter- Clare returned in 2008 as companies. upatAcas,asitdidyesterday, ment, a long way from that allSoutherntrains. rorismact.Officersarrestedthe theheadchef of Restaurant Generalsecretaryof Aslef andtellingusthatitintends position.” Other operators’ ser- 50-year-oldmanonWednesday, GordonRamsayandbecame MickWhelansaid:“Thecom- to impose [driver-only oper- Passengers havebeen suf- vices will not affected by January4,afterhedisembarked Chef Patron four years panyhasnotbeenprepared atedtrains]. feringfrommonthsof travel the strikes but may be fromaplanethatlandedfrom later. to move - it is simply going “Westillbelieveadealcan chaos and a strike over the busier. CairoinEgypt. 6 NEWS 02087226301 January12,2017 January12,2017 www.epsomguardian.co.uk NEWS 7 Multi-million pound town centre improvements begins Theentireplanisscheduledto Prepare for diversions becompletedbyOctober2017 and jams due to works REPORTER andAshleyAvenue. proved a draft document for CRAIGRICHARD Theentireplanisscheduledto PlanE–along-termstrategyfor craig.richard@ becompletedbyOctober2017. improvingleisure,culturaland london.newsquest.co.uk Plannerswillalso: recreationalfacilities,maintain change South Street to two- accommodation and enhancing THE council has warned resi- way; retailunitsintheborough–in dentsof roadclosuresandtraf- change the junction with January2010. fic diversions as work on the SouthStreet/WestStreet/High Plan E is being funded by a multi-millionpoundPlanEim- Street(West)toprovidearight £2.7milliongrantfromtheCoast provementworkstoEpsomtown turnintoSouthStreet; toCapitalLocalEnterprisePart- centrebegan,sevenyearsaftera change the junction with nership–acoalitionof localau- draftplanwasfirstapproved. South Street/Ashley Avenue thoritiesandbusinessesinsouth The bus stand outside TK ‘Playhouse’junctiontoallowve- London,SurreyandSussex–to MaxxinEpsomHighStreetisto hiclestogosouthboundtowards SurreyCountyCouncil,whichis bemovedtothebackoftheAsh- DorkingRoadandprovidepedes- leadingtheworks. leyCentreinAshleyAvenueas triancrossingfacilities; A spokesperson for Epsom part of the plan’s 13-week-long widen the pavement outside andEwellBoroughCouncilad- firstphase.WorkbeganonMon- MetroBank; vised:“Inorderthattheworks day,January9. change the signalling at the arecarriedoutassafelyandef- The majority of the work to SpreadEaglejunctiontoinclude ficientlyaspossible,temporary improve the town’s roads and acountdownforpedestrians,al- laneandroadclosureswithtraf- public spaces is scheduled to lowingthemtobettertimetheir ficdiversionsandsomeparking be carried out Mondays to Fri- crossing. andloadingsuspensionswillbe days,withlaneclosuresbetween The council’s Strategy and requiredwhennecessarywhilst 9.30amand4pminAshleyRoad Resources Committee first ap- theworkstakeplace.” Man admits to having indecent images A MIDDLE-AGED man from and animals. John Crawford nographic images which por- Worcester Park has pleaded Platt, 43, of Washington Road, trayed people performing sex guiltytomakingover750inde- waschargedwithmakingatotal actswithliveanimals. cent ‘moving and still images’ of 767imagesof children.Platt Plattenteredhisguiltypleaat of childrenandpossessingsex- alsopleadedguiltytopossessing Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court uallyexplicitimagesofhumans 31movingandstillextremepor- onJanuary5. DIDYOU KNOW, WEHAVE AMASSIVE MONTHLY ON-LINE AUDIENCE? TODISCUSS HOWWECAN CONNECT THIS AUDIENCE TOYOUR BUSINESS CALLUS NOWON: 020 8722 6438 www.epsom guardian.co.uk January12,2017 www.epsomguardian.co.uk NEWS 8 ‘Majorinternalincident’declaredovernumberofsickpatients Hospital staff ‘rise to challenge’ at busy time REPORTER CRAIGRICHARD craig.richard@ london.newsquest.co.uk UNPRECENDENTED numbers of sickpatientsledtoa“major internalincident”atEpsomGen- eralHospitalandStHelierHos- pital. A high number of people at- tending the hospitals’ A&E de- partments on Friday, January 6,ledtothehospitalsrelyingon additionalconsultantsandextra staff asa“humanitariancrisis” strucktheUK.Internalmajorin- EpsomHospitalwasextremelybusyoverthelastweek cidentsarecalledwhenanevent hasthepotentialtocausesignifi- edged there were “huge pres- no pleasure to again have been cantrisktopatientsafety. sures”ontheNHS. provedrightonthismatter. The “major incident” on Fri- Aspokesmanfromhealthcam- “Nor are we surprised, the day lasted between 8.45am and paignersKeepOurStHelierHos- wonderful,committedandhard- 7.45pm. pital(KOSHH)said:“KOSHHare working staff at Epsom & St That same day, The British notintheleastbitsurprisedto Helier Hospitals managed to RedCross’chief executiveMike learnlocalhospitalshavestrug- copeaswellaspossiblewiththe Adamsonsaidtherewasa“hu- gledtokeepupwithdemandof increaseddemand,inspiteofthe manitarian crisis” in the UK’s late, during the manufactured unsustainable pressure and un- hospitalandambulanceservices, crisis currently affecting vast realistic cuts, which have been while the latest figures showed swathesof England’shealthser- imposeduponthem.” overflowing A&E departments vice.Indeedtheproblemswhich An Epsom and St Heli- shutting their doors to patients we are now hearing about are er University Hospitals NHS more than 140 times in Decem- precisely what we at KOSHH Trust (ESTH) spokesman said ber. have been warning about for the trust was “able to rise to Prime Minister Theresa May someyearsnow,andweshould the challenge” of the “major rejectedtheclaim,butacknowl- stressthatitgivesusabsolutely incident”.