Hundreds of residents have had their first glimpse of plans to build an enormous complex for 600 students plus elderly people and families in Ewell.

Concerns raised at a public exhibition included traffic problems, a lack of parking, litter and a huge influx of students into the village.

North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) wants to build on 14 acres of college land used to care for farm animals with access from Reigate Road.

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The public exhibition at Nescot on Monday

The plans include six student accommodation blocks, a retirement care village with 120 units and 79 family homes.

Alan Evans, who was among more than 200 people to see plans at the college on Saturday and Monday, said: "We’re definitely against it first of all because of all the accidents and fatalities on the bridge of Reigate Road.

"It’s just wrong for the area: There are not enough amenities to cope with it all."

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Alan Evans with his family

Dee Stannard, who lives right by the proposed site, summed up their concerns as: "Rubbish, volume of children in a small area and traffic."

She said: "The other worry we have is a large volume of teenagers coming back from Epsom in the early hours of the morning." 

Susan Morgan, from Ewell, said: "The traffic is the biggest concern, I think. It’s a nightmare crossing these roads. It’s a very busy road and it’s not very good to be living on top of all that."

Barry Wastridge, assistant principal at Nescot, said they needed to raise about £20m to fund improvements to the college, which has ill-fitting windows, outdated heating systems and services in need of updating.

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Alan and Dee Stannard

Mr Wastridge said: "If it all goes ahead we can create facilities for our students so when they do go out to the workplace, they are familiar with the equipment because they have used it here.

"We will do what is within our power to mitigate the impact on the community. But we feel there’s also going to be a positive impact in terms of job creation and trade for the village."

He said it was intended that about 100 to 150 Nescot students would take up residence alongside students from the University for Creative Arts (UCA) in Epsom.

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Barry Wastridge, assistant principal at Nescot

He confirmed there had also been ‘very early discussions’ with Epsom’s performing arts college Laine Theatre Arts.

A UCA spokesman said: "No agreements are in place with NESCOT, or any other parties, but we are constantly looking for potential opportunities to expand the accommodation provision for our students at UCA Epsom."

A Laine Theatre Arts spokeswoman said: "As far as I’m aware there’s been no formal discussions about accommodation."

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The college site used to care for animals on Monday

Shirley Thomas, from Ewell, said the student accommodation was a money making exercise with many young people studying elsewhere in the borough.

Mrs Thomas said: "This is going to be a holding tank for very many young people from Epsom.

"They have made absolutely no space for young people to go to eat and socialise.

"Does anyone want 600 young people with nothing to do apart from make trouble or go to the pub?"