Agenda item

To brief members on the Greater Redhill Sustainable Transport Package project that was the subject of a consultation for six weeks between 19 June and 31 July 2015.

The Local Committee (Reigate & Banstead) agreed:

(i)    to note the results of the high level analysis of the public engagement on the proposed schemes (Annex 1 of the report).

(ii)   to approve the scheme delivery programme for 2015/16 including improvements to National Cycle Route 21 (NCR21, see Annex 2a of the report, consultation map ‘off-road’ cycle routes), and widening the existing shared-use, unsegregated cycle and pedestrian route along the A2044 Woodhatch Road between Maple Road and Pendleton Road (see Annex 2a of the report, consultation map cycle route section 4).

(iii)  that feasibility and design work continues on the walking, cycling and bus improvement schemes as set out in the exhibition panels (Annex 2a & 2b of the report) for delivery during 2016/17 and 2017/18. A detailed programme for delivery of these schemes will be developed and brought to a later committee for approval.

(iv)  to note that the Local Committee will be updated on a regular basis during the life of the project.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Paul Fishwick, Programme Manager SCC (LTS and Major Schemes) and Neil McClure, Project Manager SCC

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Member Discussion – key points:

Neil stated that a six week public engagement exercise was carried out between 19 June and 31 July 2015, including an exhibition at East Surrey Hospital.  He said that they had received approx 350 visitors on staffed days (i.e. Thursday and Saturday).  Fifty nine responses to the questionnaire had been received and they were drawing on other related scheme engagement alongside the STP responses.  Neil said the responses received indicated overall support for the bus/cycle/walk measures within the scheme.  The Officer Project Board has evaluated the consultation feedback and prioritised the scheme delivery programme for 2015/16. Neil said they were continuing to identify the scheme delivery programme for 2016/17 and 2017/18 and details would be presented at a future Local Committee for approval.

It was noted that a large number of respondents would like bus services extended for longer hours, particularly to East Surrey Hospital.  Neil said that bus journey time reliability and information improvements were also the key items people are asking for within the consultation feedback, and they were working in partnership with the bus operators to deliver improvements. Neil highlighted that the county council has also recently completed a Local Transport Review and this has meant some changes to bus services in the area. Officers are now working on the feedback from the Local Transport Review and the Greater Redhill Sustainable Transport Package (STP) to develop the bus corridor schemes further. The programme of bus corridor improvements is at the feasibility design stage and is expected to form part of the scheme delivery from 2016/17.

Neil said it was not possible to distinguish whether the SCC consultation website hits were from individual persons or from one person several times.  Further, a joint response submitted from an organisation may include individual responses from 20 – 30 people but would only show as one response within the feedback figures.  The Committee asked if leaflets had been sent to the homes on which the scheme would have an impact?  Neil said leaflets had been sent to businesses and local interest groups based on SCC’s Local Transport Plan consultee list. Reigate and Banstead Borough Council also sent out notification to their respective consultee lists rather than individual houses.

The state of the footpath between Perrywood/Monotype Business Park was noted and Neil agreed to contact Cllr Hammond outside the meeting.

It was noted by Councillor Essex, that the real time passenger information (RTPI) screen at Redhill bus station was not working correctly.  Neil said he was aware of recent ongoing problems with this particular sign.  It was his understanding that the majority of these issues had now been resolved by the contractors involved but he would flag this issue to colleagues in passenger transport. Neil advised that RTPI improvements form part of the bus corridor measures currently being planned along the corridors connecting Redhill/Reigate and Horley/Gatwick within the scope of this Greater Redhill STP scheme.   

The Local Committee (Reigate & Banstead) agreed:

(i)    to note the results of the high level analysis of the public engagement on the proposed schemes (Annex 1 of the report).

(ii)   to approve the scheme delivery programme for 2015/16 including improvements to National Cycle Route 21 (NCR21, see Annex 2a of the report, consultation map ‘off-road’ cycle routes), and widening the existing shared-use, unsegregated cycle and pedestrian route along the A2044 Woodhatch Road between Maple Road and Pendleton Road (see Annex 2a of the report, consultation map cycle route section 4).

(iii)  that feasibility and design work continues on the walking, cycling and bus improvement schemes as set out in the exhibition panels (Annex 2a & 2b of the report) for delivery during 2016/17 and 2017/18. A detailed programme for delivery of these schemes will be developed and brought to a later committee for approval.

(iv) to note that the Local Committee will be updated on a regular basis during the life of the project.