Agenda item

This report is to brief members on the Dorking Transport Package (Phase 1) project that was the subject of a consultation for six weeks between 19 June and 31 July 2015.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed to:

      i.        To note the results of the high level analysis of the public engagement (Annex 1)

     ii.        That the outline project as set out in Annex 5 for ‘on highway’ improvements is approved and progresses to detailed design.

    iii.        To note that the Local Committee will be updated on a regular basis during the life of the project.

And resolved to agree:

   iv.        To the advertisement of a legal notice and traffic order for the introduction of a road table at the junction of Lincoln Road with Station Approach (Annex 6).

    v.        That if the objections are received to advertisement of the legal notices and traffic orders, the Area Team Manager is authorised to try to resolve them in consultation with the chairman, vice chairman, divisional members and project manager, and decide whether or not they should be acceded to and therefore whether the orders should be made, with or without modification.

Reasons for recommendations:

To ensure that the Local Committee is kept informed of the scheme development, the Local Committee is asked to note the results of the analysis of the public engagement event on the Dorking Sustainable Transport Package (Phase 1) proposals, included in Annex 1, together with supporting information of Annex 2 the exhibition panels and Annex 3 the questionnaire.

Declarations of Interest:

None

Officer attending:

Paul Fishwick, LSTF Project Manager

Petitions, Public Questions and Statements:

One petition received

A petition containing 346 signatures was submitted for consideration at the meeting.  Residents had asked to stop the removal of trees and vegetation at the station as part of the Dorking Deepdene station improvement project (phase 1). A response had already been provided by officers and that wording and the petition text were presented as a tabled item (see attached).

The petitioner Mrs P King presented the background to the subject of the petition.  The removal of trees and vegetation had not originally been part of the consultation and there were both privacy and environmental concerns. The petition had been successful in getting the attention of both Surrey County Council and First Great Western. She was satisfied that some concessions had been made but stressed she will continue to challenge any unnecessary tree cutting in the future.

The Chairman thanked the petitioner for her hospitality at the site meeting and added that FGW had been under no obligation to consult before carrying out the work.

Main points of discussion:

Paul Fishwick confirmed that the number of responses received was similar to that in previous consultations and that feedback had in general been positive. He advised that the plans will be put on the Surrey County Council website once they are available. Mrs Watson commented that it was a costly scheme given its limited benefit, and did not address the issue that she had previously raised of the cycle path ending at the taxi rank.

With regard to the cutting back of vegetation Cllr Elderton queried whether as owners of the properties affected, Network Rail (NR) was aware of the plans. Paul Fishwick confirmed that NR owns the rail station and embankment but FGW are responsible for the maintenance and he believed they were in communication with NR regarding the modifications to the station, but he will check this.

N.B. Annex 6 and 7 were missing from the original reports pack and were distributed at the meeting. These are attached to this item.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed to:

      i.        To note the results of the high level analysis of the public engagement (Annex 1)

     ii.        That the outline project as set out in Annex 5 for ‘on highway’ improvements is approved and progresses to detailed design.

    iii.        To note that the Local Committee will be updated on a regular basis during the life of the project.

And resolved to agree:

   iv.        To the advertisement of a legal notice and traffic order for the introduction of a road table at the junction of Lincoln Road with Station Approach (Annex 6).

    v.        That if the objections are received to advertisement of the legal notices and traffic orders, the Area Team Manager is authorised to try to resolve them in consultation with the chairman, vice chairman, divisional members and project manager, and decide whether or not they should be acceded to and therefore whether the orders should be made, with or without modification.

Reasons for recommendations:

To ensure that the Local Committee is kept informed of the scheme development, the Local Committee is asked to note the results of the analysis of the public engagement event on the Dorking Sustainable Transport Package (Phase 1) proposals, included in Annex 1, together with supporting information of Annex 2 the exhibition panels and Annex 3 the questionnaire.