Lib Dems Welcome an End to Eyesore in Upper High Street

7.16.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Aug 2008

Demolition in progress - the former Allam Motors site in Upper High Street, captured on 20th August 2008

Demolition is well underway of the former Allam Motors site in Upper High Street, Epsom and one councillor at least has welcomed swift action taken by new owners confirmed as Tesco.

Cllr Alison Kelly (Lib Dem, Town) says "This development site has been a blot on the landscape for a couple of years and I've lost count of the number of times I either reported graffiti on the hoardings, or asked for them to be painted. Now we will see some action and hope that a planning application based on the Development Brief approved by local residents, will be forthcoming. There's nothing further to report on this at the moment though, so we don't know what will be coming forward."

A planning application for a "hypermarket" two years ago resulted in a local residents group being set up to oppose the proposals. Owners at the time, Helical Bar, were not able not purchase a slice of the car park from the Borough Council and no. 58 Upper High Street from Rosebery Housing Association, which they needed in order to build the store. The site has lay derelict since that time.