Temporary protective hoarding has been placed around Epsom’s iconic clock tower ahead of major new building work commencing on Monday (February 18) due to occupy the market place area for most of 2019.

In a letter to Epsom residents posted to the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council website, the local authority said that the need for new paving presented an opportunity to revitalize the whole area for the community.

A council spokesman said: “The current paving is reaching the end of its life and, rather than simply replace it, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, in partnership with Surrey County Council (SCC), is taking the opportunity to provide a comprehensive upgrade to the area to transform its appearance and make the area much more of a destination for customers and visitors.”

The Council said the major new building works could be transformative because they could use funding from developers set aside for infrastructure projects.

The letter confirmed the building work would take place “through 2019 and into 2020."

Surrey County Council's main highways contractor Kier and sub-contractor CGR, will be carrying out the work.

Regarding potential disruption to residents as a result of the building works, the Council said that the plan to undertake the building in three stages meant that at least one area of the marketplace would remain open throughout the year and into 2020 until the work was complete.

The Council also said it was seeking to mitigate noise and other forms of disruption while the works tool place.

Councillor Eber Kington, Chairman of the Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee, praised the announcement Wednesday.

Cllr Kington said: “This is a positive commitment to the future of our town that will make the market area more attractive to visitors and businesses and will upgrade Epsom’s status as a town in which to shop, eat, work and do business”.

“At a time when many high streets across the country are in trouble Epsom is bucking that trend and, with these improvements, will do so in the future.”