Epsom is now on course to win nearly £4m to regenerate its town centre after the Government provided more funding for its planned traffic and street improvements.

Last month, the Epsom Guardian reported that, together with Surrey County Council (SCC), Epsom Council had made a bid for a £2.7m project to the local enterprise partnership (LEP) for major road improvements in the town centre including making South Street two-way.

Of this, the LEP said it would originally provide £2.1m, with the rest match-funded by Epsom Council, SCC and local developer contributions.

FROM FEBRUARY 13, 2015: Epsom set to win £3m Government funding for town centre improvements 

But, at a full council meeting at the end of February, it was revealed the LEP is now willing to give a full £2.7m for the scheme - as long as this is match-funded by Epsom Council and SCC to the tune of £675,000, with Epsom funding £276,000 of this amount.

This is on top of a successful bid by Epsom Council for £200,000 from the LEP for further public realm improvements, which the council has match-funded with another £200,000.

This would take the total pot of money for all of the improvements to £3.8m - with Epsom Council contributing £476,000 in total.

£1m of the money would be used specifically for "public realm improvements", such as the sprucing up of street furniture, with the rest spent on the major road changes.

At the council meeting, councillors voted to allow its money to be used for the match-funding.

It is still waiting on approval for the money, but Mark Berry, its head of planning, said the LEP has indicated it will be awarded.

Councillor Neil Dallen, who represents town ward, said: "It’s fantastic news.

"We worked hard and ended up with our prize."

He said a project manager to oversee the scheme will also be funded using the money.

But plans to make South Street two way have met with opposition from some Epsom Guardian readers.

David Goodrick, of St Stephen’s Avenue, Ashtead, said: "I have never heard of such a hair brain scheme.

"All this idea would achieve would be to push the traffic down Woodcote Road, the Avenue and Worple Road."

John Wooders, from Epsom, said: "I just cannot see how this will benefit Epsom either by reducing traffic congestion or making it easier to get to the town."

Your Local Guardian:

A map by Surrey County Council outlining the proposed changes in Epsom 

Surrey County Council (SCC), which is funding the improvements along with Epsom Council, said the changes will cut journey times through the town by up to 20 per cent – on average around a two-minute decrease.

Councillor John Furey, SCC cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We’ll be improving roads and making it quicker and easier for people to move around, which stimulates economic growth and paves the way for regeneration."

A public consultation on the plans will be held next week.

Images of the plans – part of Epsom Council’s long-term vision for the town, Plan E - will go on display with pictures and maps of the new road layout on March 18, 19 and 21 at the Ebbisham Centre in Derby Square, Epsom.

People will have the chance to discuss the plans to improve traffic flow and safety with experts from both councils and will be able to find out about measures to promote walking by improving pedestrian safety.

The consultation will take place at the Ebbisham Centre on Wednesday, March 18, from 12pm to 7.30pm; Thursday, March 19, from 10am to 7.30pm; and Saturday, March 21, from 10am to 4pm.

What do you think of the proposals? Leave a comment below or email Hardeep Matharu on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.