Chris Grayling MP is a busy man. No longer a member of Cabinet, he now dedicates his time to working for his constituency of Epsom and Ewell, which he has represented since 2001. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Grayling and I talked to him about the projects that he’s working on, and how he seeks to advance the wellbeing of his constituents.
I asked Mr Grayling what changes he wanted to see in his constituency by the time he left office. He replied, “I don’t want to see any major changes in Epsom and Ewell. It is a nice place to live because it is very green and open. There is a need for new housing, and I believe that instead of big tower blocks, schemes like those being planned in Kiln Lane and Longmead are ideal,” referring to the plans to build ‘urban villages on the site of two industrial estates. According to the website of Epsom Conservatives, these developments will offer a “mix of offices and flats in a well-designed environment”.
Another key issue is transportation in Epsom. Grayling told me, “Travelling on trains myself, they are simply too busy. I’ve been in contact with Southern Railway and South Western Railway to deliver extra train services to London Bridge, easing pressure on the network.” When I asked Grayling whether his previous experience as Transport Secretary helped in negotiations, he said, “When you’re Transport Secretary, you’re not able to help your own constituents.” He added, “As a backbench MP, you do not hold a lot of power, but you do have access to a lot of important people.”
A central issue which has guided Mr Grayling’s work as an MP is the future of Epsom Hospital, a cause which he has campaigned for since 2006. So far, he has managed to fight several attempts to downgrade the hospital and move services to St Helier Hospital. Instead, the government has agreed to provide £500 million to build a new acute hospital replacing both Epsom and St Helier Hospitals. However, it has been decided to build the hospital in Sutton, angering Mr Grayling, who wants the hospital to be built in Epsom.
Grayling told me that another key issue is the Epsom Chalk Pit, which is currently being used as a recycling centre. This has led to trouble with many residents, who say the dust that emanates from the site means they cannot open their windows in the summer months. “The regulatory authorities are doing an awful job when it comes to the Chalk Pit,” Grayling told me.
On Grayling’s website, he states that one of his main priorities is “to work with residents to preserve the character of Epsom, Ewell, Ashtead, Nork & Tattenham.” When I asked him what said character is, he answered that it is the green spaces that are so prevalent in the area. To preserve this character, he stated support for a number of initiatives. “I would like to see cycle paths built alongside the railway, running from the new developments at Kiln Lane and Longmead to Epsom town centre.” Grayling added, however, “car is still king in Epsom and it is a bigger priority to maximise space on the roads for vehicles, meaning it is inefficient to build cycle lanes by the side of roads.” He continued, “Living in Epsom myself, the problem that I face most in my day to day life as a resident is the traffic congestion around Epsom Hospital, and this lack of capacity is something we need to fix.”
I asked Mr Grayling what efforts to help prevent climate change had been, or were planning to be enacted in Epsom and Ewell. He told me that the rollout of charging points was vital. “It’s being rolled out step by step, but there aren’t enough yet.” When asked about hydrogen-powered cars, such as the recently introduced Toyota Mira, Grayling said he was open-minded. “While I believe that hydrogen power is a technology more suited to lorries than to cars, I see its benefits and I think that governments should not be biased against it.” He told me how he believed the government’s proposal to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars would steer people to embrace new technologies, and he forecast that it would be difficult to buy petrol and diesel powered cars by the end of the decade.
When asked which current government proposals he thinks are most important for the people of Epsom and Ewell, Grayling told me that he believed the axing of VAT on solar panels was crucial for the future of energy in the UK. He also told me that some key elements the Health and Social Care Bill originate in Epsom, as the local NHS trust was a pioneer in offering joint health and social care. Among other things, it is this scheme which has led to the national push for integration of the two.
I asked Mr Grayling about sports in Epsom, and how the presence of the world-famous Epsom Downs Racecourse impacts the town. “There will be a greater focus on Derby Week this year due to the Platinum Jubilee. We aim to increase local involvement in the Derby with primary school children painting statues of horses which will be shown in the area.” He also told me about the plight of Epsom and Ewell Football Club which plays outside the borough in Leatherhead. “Epsom and Ewell could have a large fanbase if they returned to the borough, and we hope to see them come home soon.”
