Issue - meetings

To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68.  Notice should be given in writing or by e-mail to the Partnership Committee Officer at least 14 days before the meeting.  Alternatively, the petition can be submitted on-line through Surrey County Council’s e-petitions website as long as the minimum number of signatures (30) has been reached 14 days before the meeting.

Four petitions have been received, officer responses are attached:

1)  Bowes Road, Walton on Thames request for additional traffic calming and 20mph speed limit

2)  Nightingale Avenue,  West Molesey request for trees to be replaced

3) A309 Kingston by-pass pedestrian crossing, Hinchley Wood request to improve safety

4) Hare Lane, Claygate petition to improve road safety by reducing speed limit to 20mph

That the Local Committee [Elmbridge] agreed:

Nightingale Avenue

To note the response provided, but to ask the Area Highways Manager to consider whether there could be more flexibility in the tree planting guidelines for residential roads with low footfall and to report back to the Committee if changes are possible.

A309 Kingston by-pass pedestrian crossing

That the Highways Area Manager be asked to consider whether there are any further measures, such as the installation of a rumble strip at this location, which could be considered to improve safety and report back to the Committee.

Hare Lane, Claygate

That £5,000 be allocated from the Committee’s parking surplus to fund a speed assessment in Hare Lane to inform a decision on what further work, if any, may be required in the area.

Reasons: to respond to issues raised by local residents in the form of petitions to the Committee.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Nick Healey, Area Highways Manager (NE)

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: Four petitions were received. An update to the officer response in relation to Hare Lane is attached in the supplementary papers for the Committee to reflect the petitioners intention that the area to be considered should be between the Swan public house and the railway bridge.

Petition 1 - Mr Dorudi indicated that he was representing the residents of Bowes Road who would like to see a traffic survey to determine speed and traffic volume.  The existing traffic calming has had little effect on the speed of traffic in the road and with around 800 residential units being built in the area in the next 12 months, the road which was only designed for residential use will suffer from increased traffic volumes.  There are many families in this area and the road is dangerous.

Petition 2 – Mr Matic Langford indicated that the whole street would like to find a way in which the street can retain its tree lined appearance and requested some flexibility in the guidelines used by the highways department.  Residents are happy to pay for the new trees.

Petition 3 – Mrs Bresson-Joseph asked the Committee to address the issues which makes the crossing, used by many local children, dangerous. Many cars jump the red light and she didn’t feel that the response to the petition addressed the particular issue of children using the crossing.

Petition 4 – Lucy Wright indicated that the area which the petition seeks to address is primarily residential and there is only a narrow footpath along approximately 380 of the 400m in question, which is on the opposite side of the road to the properties.  More children would be able to walk to school if the route was safer.  She didn’t accept that a reduction in the speed limit would impact on adjoining roads as there would be no time saved by taking an alternative route.

There was no indication of any further public questions or statements so the Committee moved to debate the options.

Member Discussion – key points

Petition 1 - Members acknowledged that it is a very busy road particularly at peak times and the roundabout at the end appears to be quite dangerous, but there does not seem to be an obvious solution.  The Area Highways Manager indicated that there had been no casualties in this are in the last three years and as traffic calming measures are already in place, other areas would be a higher priority for any investment.  The response was noted.

Petition 2 – The local county councillor supported the petition.  This road is similar to many others in the area.  Pedestrian usage is limited so there didn’t seem to be a need for a wide footway allowing people to pass each other as this would not be a regular issue and they would be happy to wait for others to come through.  Other members agreed that whilst  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47