Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the petition heard by the local committee on 5 September 2018, following the agreement by the Local Committee (Mole Valley) to ask officers to reconsider the proposal, and in discussion with the Chairman and the petitioners, what the way forward might be, in light of the strong views expressed by the committee, to introduce a trial period.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) AGREED to:

(i) Note the joint statement from Surrey County Council (SCC) Local Committee Chairman Mr Tim Hall and Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) Cabinet Member for Prosperity Councillor Simon Edge, as an update on the Petition (Annex 1). In particular to note the actions going forward.

(ii) Note that a safety review, which considers all High Street users, to assess the risk of conflict between vehicles and pedestrians, particularly for children, is to be carried out by SCC and is scheduled to be completed by March 2019.

(iii) Note that SCC has commissioned a repair of the walling to the ramps at the foot of the High Street, to improve the visual impact of this feature. This will be the removal of the damaged tiles and replacing this tiling with new rendering. This will be funded 50:50 by SCC and MVDC, with MVDC applying public realm planning contributions, and is scheduled to be carried out in February 2019, subject to normal construction delays, weather conditions and reducing inconvenience to traders and High Street users. The timing of the works was the result of consultation with

the market operator, Leatherhead and District Chamber of Commerce.

(iv) Note that a further petition about Leatherhead High Street has been submitted to the 12 December 2018 Local Committee (Mole Valley) for consideration.

(v) Agree that, following a review of the signs in Leatherhead, that SCC and MVDC will work together to put forward proposals for a new car park signing scheme, and existing direction signs in the town centre. Also, that MVDC and SCC will review existing Leatherhead gateway signs, identify approaches where no existing signs are, and to agree appropriate type, location and wording for any possible new signs. The Task Group and Committee will be updated following discussions between MVDC and SCC regarding the detailed proposals, funding streams and timings.

Reasons for Decision

To propose measures to work with representatives of the Leatherhead Residents’

Association and the Leatherhead and District Chamber of Commerce, in advance

and alongside the Transform Leatherhead project.

Declarations of interest: None

Officers present: Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager

The report was published with the supplementary papers. It was accompanied by a petition and response. To facilitate the discussion, the petition and Item 13 were heard together, after Item 4b and with Item 5.

A petition had been received from Mrs Susan Leveritt, with regards to Leatherhead High Street. The petition was sponsored by the Leatherhead Residents Association and the Leatherhead & District Chamber of Commerce.  It is a request for the return of free parking to Leatherhead High Street at 3.30pm, with the Pedestrian Zone finishing an hour earlier than the current end time of 4.30pm. This petition follows on from the discussion the local committee had in September 2018 when Mrs Leveritt  also presented a petition on this matter. At that meeting, members asked for officers to reconsider their response, and so officers have provided this update report to the local committee.

Mrs Leveritt spoke on the petition and her statement included the following points:

• High streets in neighbouring communities have some free parking between 8am and 6pm. Leatherhead has none.
• The first petition since losing parking, was brought in 2013, by 56 town centre traders, 13 of whom have since gone. There are now five sites vacant. In 2015 traders asked for a parking trial but consultation results were 50-50 so the proposal was dropped. Over 1000 people have now signed this users petition presented at this meeting.
• Safety review and feasibility study – this should have started in September after the first petition was heard. This seems onerous as what the petition is asking for is already permitted every Sunday and evening. The crash map website indicates only one accident on the high street in the last five years; at midnight between cars and not involving pedestrians.
• The petition is only asking for access for 2 hours and 15 mins in the late afternoon at a time when there are fewer pedestrians in the High Street. The timing should help to capture families after the school run and could save some of the banks. Traders need more footfall.
• Both Surrey Highways and Mole Valley District Council in published strategies commit to supporting business prosperity. Will the committee please remember this today. All other considerations seem more important than business needs.
• The closure of Eden Flowers, and news that Martyns, including the Post Office, will close in 2019 - how many more have to close until the traders get the return of free parking?

Mr John Howarth, on behalf of Leatherhead and District Chamber of Commerce also spoke on the petition, and his statement included the following points:

• There is reference in the report at 2.6 (p36) to a feasibility study. However the 6 month trial proposed in the first petition was effectively proposing a feasibility study in situ. Has an opportunity been missed in this respect?
• There are five vacant units with more closures on the way. Does the committee agree there is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40