AN application that would have allowed contractors to work through the night on the?Epsom railway station redevelopment has been blocked by councillors.
Solum Regeneration had applied for an amendment to?its previously?approved planning permission, asking?for major works to be carried out while the station is closed.
But members of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s planning committee voted seven to three in favour of?turning down?the application, despite a warning from head of planning Mark Berry that doing so would delay construction.
In September, the planning committee voted not to defer control of the matter?to?chairman Graham Dudley, after?it was indicated that?he was likely to approve the amendment.
Local residents groups spoke out against the night-time proposals while a noisy public gallery cheered and jeered throughout the latest meeting on Thursday night (November 11).
Emma Paul, of the Epsom Taxi Rank Association,?accused the planning department of “a lack of rigor and professionalism".
She added: “Residents should not have to suffer from months of noisy, disturbed nights. Commuters are being prioritised over council tax-paying residents.
“The proposed amendment does provide a ‘blank cheque’. There is no certainty with the programme of works or with the proposed wording.”
Stewart Drummond of Rolfe Judd, the architects behind the project, said: “The reason night-time working is necessary is that Solum Regeneration have agreed that the station redevelopment is to be carried out with the minimum amount of disruption to commuters.
“The station is only closed between the hours of 12.30am and 5.30am, limiting when we can carry out these works.”
Residents and councillors accused the project of being a "bad neighbour", citing examples including the temporary removal of disabled access to the station and complaints from residents in nearby Hudson House who were woken by a contractor cutting up a telephone post between 12am and 2am.
However, head of planning Mr Berry refused to?consider the complaints as the only two planning issues were the erection of a protective tunnel outside the station and the re-routing of public access to?an underpass.
Councillor Robert Leach, the council leader, criticised the wording of the amendment, warning that it would give the developer "carte blanche" to work whenever they pleased.
“The more I hear about this the more concerned I get,” he added.
“There seems to be a disparity between what is being represented to us and what the amendment actually says.
“When they [the contractors] declare it a track possession period, when that happens they can make as much noise as they like for as long as they like.
“They could work every single night if they wanted to.”
However, Mr Berry pointed out that the allowance for track possession was in the original planning permission – meaning refusing the amendment would not guarantee there will be no night works.
Speaking after the meeting Janet Burgess, a resident of Horsley Close which backs onto the station, said: “It is a good victory for us but I am sure they will come back.
“We are all really happy, it’s about time some of them [the councillors] stood up for the local residents.”
Solum Regeneration now have the option to appeal against?the planning committee's decision.
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