It's not surprising that Oxfam in Ewell High Street is closing, as reported recently in the Guardian (Charity shuts village shop after 30 years, February 19).
The reason given is reduced footfall. That is not unexpected, as being a pedestrian in the High Street is not very pleasant, if not downright dangerous. In places the cracked and patched pavements are hardly wide enough to allow two people to pass. Stationary vehicles pump out nitrogen dioxide and their noise makes it difficult to have a conversation.
Most of the traffic is using Ewell as a short cut and has no right to be there. The High Street was built for horse and carts, not for cars. The by-pass was designed for heavy traffic and that is where it should go. When it was converted into a dual carriageway 15 years ago, restrictions should have been placed on traffic using the centre of the village in order to divert it onto the by-pass.
Eighteen months ago Ewell Village Residents Association came up with a workable scheme that would have reduced the traffic in the High Street by almost 50 per cent. Unfortunately, a few vociferous objectors who were unhappy about having to drive somewhat further, caused the RA to lose its nerve and so it came to nothing. Since then very little has happened, apart from a couple of minor improvements. The RA councillors say they can't do anything because traffic is a matter for Surrey County Council and Surrey County Council don't do anything.
The shops and businesses in Ewell will continue to decline until such time as something is done about the traffic. There is no lack of spending power in the area, there is simply a lack of political will.
Richard Evans
Epsom Road
Ewell
- Send your letters to: letters@epsomguardian.co.uk
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