The Epsom and Walton Downs Consultative Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday 13 October 2025 to discuss a number of issues relating to Epsom and Walton Downs. These include issues raised by invited representatives, updates to the action tracker, and any items that need to be brought to the attention of the Conservators¹. The meeting will be held at the Epsom Town Hall and broadcast on YouTube.

Issues Raised by Invited Representatives

The committee is scheduled to discuss issues raised by representatives invited to the meeting, including Caroline Baldock from the Epsom Equestrian Conservation Team, Richard Balsdon from the College Ward Residents Association and Nick Lock from the Epsom Civic Society.

Caroline Baldock from the Epsom Equestrian Conservation Team is scheduled to raise concerns about:

• Cyclists riding on the gallops and the need for signs on the Downs.
• The poor condition of litter bins.
• The need for a list of events on the Downs to be sent to all equestrian establishments and published on the council website.

Richard Balsdon from the College Ward Residents Association is scheduled to raise concerns about:

• The deteriorating surface of the car parks on Grandstand Road, and to whom requests for compensation should be addressed for damage caused to cars by potholes.
• Vehicles parked outside the Derby Arms, which he understands to be a designated hack-riding area. He will ask whether the Conservators have extended permission for parking to other parties, and if so, on what basis.

Nick Lock from the Epsom Civic Society is scheduled to raise concerns about:

• The dumping of material on the Downs, which the society believes is incompatible with the duty of the Downs Conservators to preserve the Downs so far as possible in their natural state of beauty under the Epsom & Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984, section 10. He is scheduled to say that some spoil dumps have been left for a number of years, despite undertakings that the material would be removed. He is also scheduled to say that the society believes that unused material resulting from works on the gallops should be removed, and if there is a need for an extra works area in the top car park, it should be low level and fenced off.
• The lack of content on the noticeboards, despite assurances that work on this is progressing.

Nick Harrison from the Tattenham and Preston Residents Association is scheduled to ask about the impact of Local Government Reorganisation and Epsom & Ewell's Community Governance Review on the position of the Conservators and on the Consultative Committee itself. A response has been provided prior to the meeting, stating that:

There is no definitive answer at this point. The expectation is that all such arrangements and obligations will transfer over to the new Unitary authority in May 2027, but this will not be clear until we receive the Structural Change Order from Government in early 2026 which will set out the process, timeline and responsibilities for all new Unitary partners.

Action Tracker

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the Committee Action Tracker. The action tracker lists a number of ongoing issues, including:

• The condition of the Hack Canter Ride, which has suffered severe damage from vehicle use.
• Noticeboards on the Downs, and putting up noticeboard content and protective covering.
• Spoil heaps, and the removal/recycling of spoil heaps on the downs.
• Oak Trees, and the potential planting of an Oak Tree.
• Ice Cream Van, and a risk assessment of the current location of the ice cream van.
• Sycamore Trees, and discussion regarding management of sycamore trees on the downs.
• Toilets on the Downs, and assessing the options for the future provision of a toilet facility at the Downs.
• Fibre Sand Gallop, and an unfriendly horse crossing of fibre sand gallop on Walton Road approaching the woods.
• Resurfacing of Hack Track from Langley Vale behind Downs House.
• Events on the Downs - Webpage, and collating information about events on the downs.
• Race Horses using Hack Tracks, and speaking to Nigel Whybrow to look into issues with Race Horses using Hack Tracks.
• Additional Lighting, and looking into possibility of additional lighting outside the Durdans.
• School Run Traffic, and looking into issues with speeding traffic on Chalk Lane.
• Dog Walking on the Downs, and looking into options regarding dog walking on the downs.
• Car Park Management Plan, and the Jockey Club to produce a Management Plan.
• Local Government Reorganisation, which will affect the make up and work of the Conservators and Consultative Committee.

Items for the Attention of the Conservators

The committee is scheduled to identify any items which it wishes to be brought to the attention of the Conservators at their next meeting, and nominate a spokesperson to present them if appropriate.