Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

1. That Surrey County Council exercise existing moving traffic enforcement powers for the first time, in relation to a bus lane in the High Street, Woking;

2. That Surrey County Council delegates that enforcement function to Woking Borough Council through an agency agreement;

3. That officers prepare a comprehensive county-wide policy for moving traffic offences.

Reason for decision:

The main reason for this is to provide enforcement for High Street, Woking town centre, which has been subject to vehicle restrictions which have been difficult to enforce. The aspiration is to remove much of the traffic passing along High Street to provide a safer, more pleasant environment for pedestrians between the busy railway station and the town centre, assisting in delivery of the Woking town centre extensive public realm works. The High Street will then become a bus priority route allowing bus journey times through the town centre to be as reliable as possible.

To date there has been no camera enforcement of bus lanes within Surrey.  By developing a comprehensive policy, enforcement can be introduced where there is a recognised need.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Highways explained that powers designated to Surrey County Council (SCC) in the Road Traffic Order 2005 that would enable it to enforce against moving traffic offences in bus lanes were proposed to be enacted. This report proposed that these powers be enacted for a pilot of bus lane enforcement by means of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system at the High Street in Woking, and that these powers be delegated to Woking Borough Council to carry out camera enforcement.

An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) had been made that prohibits the use of the Woking High Street between 7am and 9pm, 7 days a week for all vehicular traffic apart from local buses and specified classes of vehicles, which were registered with Woking Borough Council (WBC), and takes the form of a bus lane. The intent was to remove much of the traffic passing along High Street to provide a safer, more pleasant environment for pedestrians between the busy railway station and the town centre.

The High Street would become a bus priority route allowing bus journey times through the town centre to be as reliable as possible.  A Bus Lane Enforcement Agency Agreement is being prepared between SCC and WBC which would delegate these powers.

Officers would prepare and consult on a county-wide policy for the enforcement of moving traffic offences which would be presented to Cabinet in 2018.  Findings from this pilot site and experience elsewhere would be considered as part of policy formation.

RESOLVED:

1. That Surrey County Council exercise existing moving traffic enforcement powers for the first time, in relation to a bus lane in the High Street, Woking;

2. That Surrey County Council delegates that enforcement function to Woking Borough Council through an agency agreement;

3. That officers prepare a comprehensive county-wide policy for moving traffic offences.

Reason for decision:

The main reason for this is to provide enforcement for High Street, Woking town centre, which has been subject to vehicle restrictions which have been difficult to enforce. The aspiration is to remove much of the traffic passing along High Street to provide a safer, more pleasant environment for pedestrians between the busy railway station and the town centre, assisting in delivery of the Woking town centre extensive public realm works. The High Street will then become a bus priority route allowing bus journey times through the town centre to be as reliable as possible.

To date there has been no camera enforcement of bus lanes within Surrey.  By developing a comprehensive policy, enforcement can be introduced where there is a recognised need.

Mr Colin Kemp declared a non pecuniary interest as he was an Executive Member of Woking Borough Council.

Mr Colin Kemp left the meeting at 3.40pm at the end of this item.