Issue - meetings

A petition was received at the Local Committee Public Meeting on 2 March 2017 requesting the Committee consider introducing a 20mph speed limit, with relevant features, along Heathpark Drive, Birch Road and Oakwood Road in Windlesham.

A report was presented in response to the petition recommending no further action at that time.  However, the Local Committee agreed that more detailed consideration should be given to options for introducing a 20mph scheme and a further report presented to the Local Committee at its meeting on 13 July 2017.

The Local Committee then subsequently agreed at that meeting that further consideration of the matter should be delayed until the county council had completed the review of its speed limit policy which was being undertaken at the time.  This review has now been completed.

The Committee received a report from the Highways Manager which detailed the speed surveys undertaken in Heathpark Drive. As a result, it would be very difficult to justify the introduction of costly traffic calming measures when many other roads in Surrey Heath have a much poorer safety record. 

Members recognised that Government policy states that signage alone does not work and that the Highways team had done a good job in compiling the report but voted unanimously for an amendment to the recommendations (proposed by Cllr Goodman and seconded by Cllr V Chapman).

The Local Committee (Surrey Heath) noted that:

(i)    Traffic survey data indicates a good level of driver compliance with the 30mph speed limit on Heathpark Drive and suggests the existing speed limit is appropriate,

(ii)  Implementation of a lower speed limit would require traffic calming measures to be introduced to meet Surrey County Council policy, however Surrey County Council will, when money becomes available, consider implementation of a suitable, affordable scheme.

(iii)  Collision data indicated there have been no personal injury collisions in Heathpark Drive, Birch Road or Oakwood Road since 1999 (earliest available data) and the roads have a very good safety record compared to many other locations in Surrey Heath.

The Local Committee (Surrey Heath) agreed that:

(iv)The existing 30mph speed limit in Heathpark Drive, Birch Road and Oakwood Road, Windlesham should be retained and no further action taken until funds become available.

Declarations of Interest:      None

Officers attending:  Andrew Milne, Area Highways Manager, SCC

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements:  A speed limit at Heathpark drive was the subject of a petition (Mar 2017).  The lead petitioner, Mrs Creamer was in attendance with 4 local residents.

The Committee received a report from the Highways Manager which detailed the speed surveys undertaken in Heathpark Drive. The report detailed that as a result, it would be very difficult to justify the introduction of costly traffic calming measures when many other roads in Surrey Heath had a much poorer safety record. 

Members discussed the issues with the Heathpark residents in attendance and noted the case that they put forward.  Members recognised that Government policy states that signage alone does not work and that the Highways team had done a good job in compiling the report but voted unanimously for an amendment to the recommendations (proposed by Cllr Goodman and seconded by Cllr V Chapman).

The Local Committee (Surrey Heath) noted that:

(i)    Traffic survey data indicates a good level of driver compliance with the 30mph speed limit on Heathpark Drive and suggests the existing speed limit is appropriate,

(ii)  Implementation of a lower speed limit would require traffic calming measures to be introduced to meet Surrey County Council policy, however Surrey County Council will, when money becomes available, consider implementation of a suitable, affordable scheme.

(iii)  Collision data indicated there have been no personal injury collisions in Heathpark Drive, Birch Road or Oakwood Road since 1999 (earliest available data) and the roads have a very good safety record compared to many other locations in Surrey Heath.

The Local Committee (Surrey Heath) agreed that:

(iv)The existing 30mph speed limit in Heathpark Drive, Birch Road and Oakwood Road, Windlesham should be retained and no further action taken until funds become available.

Reasons for decision:

To enable further consideration of a speed limit scheme once funds became available.