Victorious: MP Paul Burstow and campaigners outside County Hall
Campaigners are jubilant after a 14-month battle to save the historic Nonsuch Mansion and Nonsuch Park came to an end.
Councillors sitting on Surrey County Council's (SCC) executive committee unanimously agreed that a 125-year lease should be signed, handing over the running of the park and mansion to Sutton and Epsom councils.
The councils intend to offer a long lease to a catering company to restore and renovate the mansion and revive its fortunes.
Surrey's u-turn came after a year of uncertainty following a decision by SCC to intervene in the future of the park.
The mansion was built by Samuel Gamul Farmer between 1802 and 1806. The architectural style is similar to the long destroyed Royal palace built by Henry VIII in the 16th century.
Surrey commissioned a secret report and then floated the possibility of disposing of the mansion for private use, turning it into a hotel or luxury apartments. Opposition to its plans grew day by day.
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The details of the report were leaked by a senior council officer horrified at the proposal to sell off Nonsuch.
County Hall was packed on Tuesday with campaigners from Sutton and Epsom, including Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow and Bill Slaughter - chairman of Stoneleigh and Auriol Residents' Association (SARA) - who spearheaded the battle to save Nonsuch.
Before the meeting, Mr Slaughter handed in a petition signed by almost 5,000 people demanding that Nonsuch be preserved for public use.
“It is a testament to just how deeply people care about safeguarding the future of Nonsuch Park and the Mansion House."
Bill Slaughter
As well as agreeing a 125-year lease, Surrey agreed to pay £180,000 to make good financial losses absorbed by Sutton and Epsom councils during the period of uncertainty caused by Surrey's intervention in the park's future.
"This was the right decision, but a long time coming. Nonsuch Park is a real local treasure, and local people left Surrey councillors in no doubt how passionate we are about its preservation," said Mr Burstow.
"The 125-year lease is the solution I called for over a year ago. It is just a pity so much time, money and effort has been spent getting here.
"It eventually dawned on the councillors that this was an incredibly unpopular enterprise they had embarked upon and eventually sense prevailed and the Nonsuch should be kept for the benefit of future generations."
"SARA is tremendously grateful to everyone who has supported and assisted the campaign, especially all those who attended SARA's public meeting last October and the near 5,000 people who signed SARA's petition," said Mr Slaughter.
"It is a testament to just how deeply people care about safeguarding the future of Nonsuch Park and the Mansion House.
"They are the real heroes. Neither must we forget to thank another special hero - the high-ranking county council officer who leaked the secret report to SARA, at the personal risk of immediate dismissal."
Posted by: Real Issues, Sutton on 6:26pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Amazing isnt it.
In 8 years who would have thought that our local Lib Dem MP would have been more successful in saving a mansion than any Post Offices.
What is more real to people in the street?
An old house or something they have to use weekly to enable them to have a decent quality of life.?
Well done Mr Burstow.
We can see where your priorities lie.
Amazing isnt it.
In 8 years who would have thought that our local Lib Dem MP would have been more successful in saving a mansion than any Post Offices.
What is more real to people in the street?
An old house or something they have to use weekly to enable them to have a decent quality of life.?
Well done Mr Burstow.
We can see where your priorities lie.
Posted by: Adrian Short, Sutton on 10:15am Fri 28 Mar 08
This is wonderful news. Nonsuch Mansion is an excellent building with real character and it should be preserved for the use of the public as the centrepiece of the park.
There are many "real issues" in the area. This is just one of them and one that more than deserves the attentions of local people and politicians of all parties.
This is wonderful news. Nonsuch Mansion is an excellent building with real character and it should be preserved for the use of the public as the centrepiece of the park.
There are many "real issues" in the area. This is just one of them and one that more than deserves the attentions of local people and politicians of all parties.
Posted by: Stella Moutafis, Epsom on 12:39pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Nonsuch Park is great recreationally - Nonsuch Mansion is just a great wreck!So now our local councils will be burdened with the cost of maintaining this dilapidated pile - no doubt having to cut spending elsewhere.
Nonsuch Park is great recreationally - Nonsuch Mansion is just a great wreck!So now our local councils will be burdened with the cost of maintaining this dilapidated pile - no doubt having to cut spending elsewhere.
What ridiculous comments!
a) Paul Burstow founght very hard to keep Post Offices open, as did MPs in other parts of London and indeed of the country. The Royal Mail had made up their minds and nothing was going to change it - the same thing is happening again now, and not only in Sutton, and the party of the MP is totally irrelevant.
And as for "others did the work" on the Nonsuch Mansion question - again what an ignorant comment. Paul Burstow has worked extrememly hard on the matter of Nonsuch in co-operation with Chris Grayling of Epsom (who did not turn up for the meeting, I believe) and Surrey County Council. Comments such as that of SD just show ignorance as to what actually goes on.
What ridiculous comments!
a) Paul Burstow founght very hard to keep Post Offices open, as did MPs in other parts of London and indeed of the country. The Royal Mail had made up their minds and nothing was going to change it - the same thing is happening again now, and not only in Sutton, and the party of the MP is totally irrelevant.
And as for "others did the work" on the Nonsuch Mansion question - again what an ignorant comment. Paul Burstow has worked extrememly hard on the matter of Nonsuch in co-operation with Chris Grayling of Epsom (who did not turn up for the meeting, I believe) and Surrey County Council. Comments such as that of SD just show ignorance as to what actually goes on.
Hurrah for Paul Burstow, as usual us residents did all of the work and he turned up in time for the photo and publicity. Where were you when the residents of the roads adjoining your own were protesting about the mobile mast on the 217? Too busy for that but you did get your secretary to send us a letter saying you were disappointed at procedings, how very big of you.
Hurrah for Paul Burstow, as usual us residents did all of the work and he turned up in time for the photo and publicity. Where were you when the residents of the roads adjoining your own were protesting about the mobile mast on the 217? Too busy for that but you did get your secretary to send us a letter saying you were disappointed at procedings, how very big of you.
Hurrah for Paul Burstow, as usual us residents did all of the work and he turned up in time for the photo and publicity. Where were you when the residents of the roads adjoining your own were protesting about the mobile mast on the 217? Too busy for that but you did get your secretary to send us a letter saying you were disappointed at procedings, how very big of you.
Hurrah for Paul Burstow, as usual us residents did all of the work and he turned up in time for the photo and publicity. Where were you when the residents of the roads adjoining your own were protesting about the mobile mast on the 217? Too busy for that but you did get your secretary to send us a letter saying you were disappointed at procedings, how very big of you.
Posted by: emily smith, North cheam on 6:22pm Sat 31 May 08
[quote][bold]Real Issues[/bold] wrote:
Amazing isnt it. In 8 years who would have thought that our local Lib Dem MP would have been more successful in saving a mansion than any Post Offices. What is more real to people in the street? An old house or something they have to use weekly to enable them to have a decent quality of life.? Well done Mr Burstow. We can see where your priorities lie. [/quote] huh? Post offices were becoming unsustainable. Times have changed and there are still enough post offices around you just have to go a little further to get to one. The mansion is not just a building it's what it represents and it's a piece of history we are lucky to live near and enjoy. What kind of debate is your post office debate? Really? Times have changed!
Real Issues wrote:
Amazing isnt it. In 8 years who would have thought that our local Lib Dem MP would have been more successful in saving a mansion than any Post Offices. What is more real to people in the street? An old house or something they have to use weekly to enable them to have a decent quality of life.? Well done Mr Burstow. We can see where your priorities lie.
huh? Post offices were becoming unsustainable. Times have changed and there are still enough post offices around you just have to go a little further to get to one. The mansion is not just a building it's what it represents and it's a piece of history we are lucky to live near and enjoy. What kind of debate is your post office debate? Really? Times have changed!
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