Tolworth Court Farm revealed as site of proposed Kingston country park

Having previously promised to create a new public open space for the borough, Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis has revealed the authority has set its sights on Tolworth Court Farm, a 107-acre plot in Old Kingston Road, close to the border with Epsom & Ewell.

The site, which is already open to the public, has seen visitor numbers drop in the past 14 years, after barriers were put up to prevent vehicle access following a series of traveller incursions and an illegal rave in 2000.

Kingston Council is now putting together a proposal that could see deer, horses and a visitor centre put on to the land.

People would also be able to enjoy picnics, walks and educational visits.

With new plans by Tesco to build 700 homes on the nearby Toby Jug site, Councillor Davis said it was important more green open spaces were made available.

He said: “In the next five to 10 years Tolworth is going to be an area of major redevelopment.

“If we are going to create more housing, any opportunity to open up green spaces for residents is important and we should be doing more of it.

"This is a really good opportunity to open up an inaccessible piece of land.

“The historical aspect is a huge part of how Tolworth developed from the medieval to the post war and the coming of the A3.”

Tolworth Court Farm has been used as farmland since Norman times.

After the rave 14 years ago, Kingston Council hired waste land regeneration company Woodland Environmental to resolve the incursion issues and re-landscape the land.

The company installed new gates and footpaths, with access to the park restricted to Jubilee Way.

Although no budget has been set for the project, the council is expected to bid for funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Mayor’s Outer London fund and other educational grants.

The site has been used as farmland  since Norman times

But Liberal Democrat councillors have questioned the precise details of the proposals.

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Liz Green said: “I would be interested to find out what he [Coun Davis] wants to do. What does he mean by country park?

“It is an open space and people can access it – although not a huge number do.

"We need more details. If it’s just promoting what is already there, there’s not much difference.”

Coun Vicki Harris, Lib Dem representative for Tolworth and Hook Rise, said: "It is already a nature reserve. A number of people already go through there.

"There are already a number of parks you could sit and have a picnic in.

"One of the things that needs to be taken into account is parking. There is no parking."

But Woodland Trust site manager Simon Bateman welcomed the idea.

He said: "Countryside parks provide great opportunities - they help people get fit and have been shown to reduce stress levels, and are also safe havens for wildlife.

"Of course, we would love to see woodland planted on the site and good care taken of any existing trees."

What do  you think? Should  Tolworth Court Farm become a country park?

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