Decision details

Item 4a – petition to 'review the traffic arrangements in Goldsworth Road at the junction with Poole Road, Woking, to prevent the access to McDonald’s drive-through restaurant causing access problems to homes and businesses. and gridlock to the traffic in that area at busy times.’

SCC Officers agreed to continue to review the situation and to work with the Borough and McDonalds to try to find alternative solutions.

The Joint Committee noted that:

(i)            Meetings were held prior to the reopening of the McDonald’s Drive-thru to discuss possible measures to minimise the impact of queuing traffic.

(ii)          No options could be identified for segregating McDonald’s traffic from traffic that was either passing along Goldworth Road or trying to access Morrison’s.

(iii)        Another meeting will be held to review the situation and identify any possible alternative routes to McDonald’s. 

(iv)        The cost of any traffic management measures should not be borne by Surrey County Council

Item 4b – petition to 'trial the reduction in speed limit to 20 mph in White Rose Lane, Mount Hermon Road, York Road and roads ancillary to those roads.'

Members discussed at length the issues of the area and how to gather residents views, noting that the introduction of speed limits or mitigation measures could impact negatively on surrounding roads, and the fact that there were similar issues in other parts of the Town.

Members also discussed that, subject to agreement by the Mount Hermon Borough and County Councillors, the Joint Committee could explore the possibility of using Neighbourhood Community InfrastructureLevy funds to design, consult upon and implement, if approved by consultation, speed restrictions (including a 20 mph zone) for Park Road and White Rose Lane.   

The Joint Committee were aware that this was contrary to the SCC speed limit policy, but did discuss whether an exception could be made, on the understanding that this did not set a precedent.

The Joint Committee noted that:

(i)            It would be impractical to trial a 20mph speed limit in a road, as opposed to permanently reducing the speed limit, because the amount of work required for assessment, advertising and implementation, as well as the associated cost, is similar in both instances.

(ii)          White Rose Lane, Mount Hermon Road and York Road are all included in the Woking speed management plan.  Speed surveys previously undertaken in both roads indicate a relatively good level of compliance with the speed limit but with speeds too high to permit a 20mph speed limit in accordance with Surrey County Council’s Speed Limit Policy.

(iii)        Residents’ concerns will be discussed with officers of the Speed Management Plan review group and new speed surveys will be requested to include Park Road.

(iv)         Vehicle speeds and road safety will continue to be monitored in White Rose Lane, Mount Hermon Road and York Road, as they are for all sites on the Woking speed management plan.

(v)          Petitions have previously been received for a 20mph speed limit along White Rose Lane in 2014 and 2017 and in both instances, the Woking Joint Committee agreed to take no further action.

However, the Joint Committee also agreed to:

Delegate to Officers to agree, in consultation with the Area Highways Manager, the way forward (including CIL bids for funds) in full consultation with Members.