I for one agree with Epsom being part of Greater London.

I did suggest this once to the Epsom MP Chris Grayling.

It seems ridiculous that London's southern boundary goes as far out as Biggin Hill and out beyond Coulsdon, while to the west of Epsom it goes out beyond Chessington as far as Malden Rushett. 

Yet, Epsom is like some thumb print on the map that's been drawn around. 

Even more bizarre is the situation for people in areas like Worcester Park and Cheam. 

Worcester Park is a Zone 4 station, yet parts of it border Epsom/Surrey. This means the elderly, disabled and job seekers don't benefit from free train travel while living less than 10 minutes’ walk away from a Zone 4 station.

I myself live in West Ewell, yet my nearest railway station is Tolworth, Zone 5.  One of my nearest bus stops is in Greater London in Cox Lane/Jubilee Way Chessington.
My preference would be for Epsom to become part of the royal borough of Kingston.

This option may also appeal to or encourage more people to agree, as the Surbiton and Kingston areas are highly regarded and seen as some of the best places to live in London. 

Epsom would fit in well with this. 

It would make so much sense, being almost surrounded by London boroughs, but not part of the cohesive process when it come to decision-making or transport policy. 

Many parts of greater London, especially in the north and east, are much further away from the capital than Epsom is.

I do get a little cross when certain members, as I have seen in the press, of the Residents’ Association say people of Epsom would not be interested. 

It's a very sweeping statement, yet no one has asked me and I have never seen anyone canvassing in the streets or knocking on our doors.

It's not just to be included in London and it's transport benefits that appeals to me.  Surrey County Council have cut back on things like public transport, also their traffic management and state of the road surfaces are awful.

Some areas now are isolated if you can't drive a car.  You have to remember that it doesn't take much to lose your licence these days. A stroke, epilepsy, eye diseases, even breaking a limb could prevent you driving. There are many medical situations that could render physically unable to drive or licence less, in many cases permanently.

Epsom is to be incorporated into Crossrail 2, which is a London project. That alone would make so much more sense if Epsom should be a part of London to get the full benefits from that.
Overall we'd get cheaper trains as we'd be able to use Oyster cards and benefit from the daily price-capping. 

Some bus route into Epsom are TfL operated for which you need an Oyster card, yet, when you get to the railway station you can't use it.

It would be daft not to be part of London.

Neil Crawford
West Ewell



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