Just two families are occupying the whole of a Gypsy and traveller site in Epsom, it has emerged - despite a hugely controversial proposal to create 20 new pitches in the borough.

The two extended families occupy the site at Conifer Park, in Kiln Lane, Epsom, which was built to house 14 pitches and which is owned and run by Surrey County Council (SCC).

By contrast, the other traveller site in Cox Lane, Ewell, run by Epsom Council, has 21 families on 16 pitches.

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Epsom town councillor Neil Dallen said he believed there were still six pitches unoccupied at Kiln Lane and said the issue of its under-utilisation had been raised repeatedly without success at SCC.

He said: "Two families live there. 

"It’s not full because nobody wants to live with these people."

And he attacked SCC for failing "to do its part of the plan" in ensuring there are sufficient pitches for travellers.

Coun Dallen said: "Cox Lane is over-full and they are not a problem to the community.  Kiln Lane is the exact opposite in all ways."

He said the issue will be considered by Epsom Council’s working group which is looking into where it should put new pitches, which it is required by the Government to create.

Talks are now being held between police and SCC about the Kiln Lane site.

Epsom’s neighbourhood inspector Craig Knight said he could not give details of the incident which has triggered the talks, saying "it is an ongoing police operation".

Insp Knight said: "If circumstances were different they probably could utilise the plots differently.

"We are working with SCC to ensure the optimum use of the site.

"These two families exist together relatively well with occasional issues.

"I’m absolutely behind Neil Dallen on addressing the situation.

"I’m very supportive of both the borough council and SCC working on it.

"If that can be done more efficiently, fantastic, and I would welcome full utilisation of the site."

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But Tina Price, who lives in Conifer Park, told the Epsom Guardian last week that there is simply no space for anyone else.

She said: "I don’t know how they could put more people there when there’s not enough space or facilities for the people who already live there."

A spokeswoman for SCC insisted that it has not been approached - either directly or by Epsom Council - to house any more Gypsy or traveller families on the site.

A SCC spokeswoman said: "We must clarify that there is physically no more room at Conifer Park.

"Although there were originally 14 small plots, the families have expanded and the site now effectively has four reasonably sized plots accommodating nine adults and 13 children, one large family plot with two adults and five children and two plots combined accommodating a single extended family of seven adults and four children.

"The two plots without utility blocks both have large chalet homes with all amenities in them.

"There were utility blocks which we refurbished with £156,000 of government funding in 2008, but they were so badly vandalised immediately after that they had to be demolished for safety reasons.

"This funding can only be applied for every 10 years so we cannot get any more until 2017."

Asked how big the Conifer Park site is, the SCC spokeswoman said it did not have that information recorded.

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Epsom and Surrey County councillor Eber Kington, chairman of the Epsom and Ewell local committee which consists of representatives from both councils, added: "We are up-to-date and aware both of the interests of the site being well utilised but also of any potential issues which arise there.

"There certainly is a conversation going on between Epsom and Surrey, it has become more positive and productive but when you get a sensitive issue as with a minority community living within a wider community and there are tensions within the minority community it’s not going to be an easy thing to resolve."

"There are going to be solutions to the problem but actually the site itself and the facilities available for new people coming onto the site are not there - some vacant pitches don’t have a utility block. 

"It’s my role to ensure SCC accepts this responsibility. 

"But to actually get this right we have to have Epsom and Ewell work with us."

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