Agenda item

This report provides the Local Committee with an update on the progress of the Dorking Transport Package (Phase 1) and seeks approval of its proposals for a consultation on the planned improvements to Dorking Deepdene Station.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) resolved:

      i.        To note the project content

     ii.        To agree that the project be the subject of consultation between 19 June and 31 July 2015.

And resolved to agree:

    iii.        That the Area Highways Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Local Divisional Member and Project Manager (Transport Policy) view and agree the consultation material.

   iv.        The feedback from the consultation is reported to a later meeting of this committee.

Reasons for decision:

The Local Committee is to be kept informed of the progress of the Dorking Transport Package (Phase 1).

It is a requirement of the C2C LEP to carry out a public consultation as a condition of the grant funding award however the county council also wishes to engage residents in the development of the project.

The timing for June/July is to enable the local contribution being provided by First Great Western to be spent before its available ‘end’ date (30 September 2015).

Declarations of Interest:

None

Officer attending: Paul Fishwick, Project Manager, Transport Policy (PF)

Petitions, Public Questions and Statements:

None

Paul Fishwick confirmed that an exhibition would take place Friday and Saturday 25 and 26 June regarding the proposal. Feedback from the whole consultation would be fed back to the LC in September.

Member discussion – key points

Hazel Watson queried why the consultation only covered phase 1 and questioned the reasons for removing the vegetation. She would have preferred priority to be given to measures to improve accessibility by either a lift or ramp and was disappointed these were not included in the phase 1 proposals. She also questioned whether the pavements were wide enough for shared use and suggested that priority should be given to providing ‘real time’ information at Dorking main station and would like to have seen the cycle path between Deepdene roundabout and the station moved to the west side of A24.

Helyn Clack suggested that what residents needed most was more car parking as cycling was not an option for those living further out of Dorking.

PF explained that the aim was to encourage residents to walk or cycle and thereby free up spaces so that motorists would not park on the street. The benefits of removing the vegetation will be assessed as part of the consultation and that the trees were on Network Rail land. Ramps and lifts would be considered as part of any phase 2 although at the moment this and phase 3 are only aspirations and there are no funds currently available.

The 1m widening of Station Approach will be subject to a safety audit but there is sufficient room and the local highways team will be segregating the A24 cycle route using a small pot of money it has available. Moving it to the west side would cause difficulties for people having to cross the main road.

PE supported retaining the vegetation providing there were no security concerns at the station and it was well lit. This would likely to be of benefit to future residents of Federated House, once developed.

Cllr Huggins agreed with the comments on commuter parking and was disappointed that phase 1 did not include a ramp to make travelling easier for all passengers. Tim Hall conceded that commuter parking was a district wide issue that needed to be taken up with the rail companies. Stephen Cooksey agreed with these comments and asked whether there was evidence that the changes would increase cycling to the station. He did not feel that the proposals were clear and would have preferred to see a long-term plan; he was disappointed that there had been no progress towards making Deepdene DDA compliant and was concerned that funding could be wasted.

PF stressed that the focus was on joining the two stations and that there was evidence to support the fact that people do convert from using the car to cycling or walking. He is waiting for a response from the Passenger Transport Group with regard to RTPI.

Ron Billard (Mole Valley Cycling Forum) refuted that there was evidence of increased cycle use. He felt that the enhancements were a step forward but stressed the need for a joined up approach e.g. tying in with the development of the Meadowbank site in Dorking and asked whether the cycling officer and representatives of the Access group had been consulted – PF confirmed that they had.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) resolved:

      i.        To note the project content

     ii.        To agree that the project be the subject of consultation between 19 June and 31 July 2015.

And resolved to agree:

    iii.        That the Area Highways Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Local Divisional Member and Project Manager (Transport Policy) view and agree the consultation material.

   iv.        The feedback from the consultation is reported to a later meeting of this committee.

Reasons for decision:

The Local Committee is to be kept informed of the progress of the Dorking Transport Package (Phase 1).

It is a requirement of the C2C LEP to carry out a public consultation as a condition of the grant funding award however the county council also wishes to engage residents in the development of the project.

The timing for June/July is to enable the local contribution being provided by First Great Western to be spent before its available ‘end’ date (30 September 2015).