Agenda item

To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68. Notice should be given in writing or by email to the Community Partnership and Committee Officer at least 14 days before the meeting. Alternatively, the petition can be submitted on-line through Surrey County Council’s e-petitions website as long as the minimum number of signatures (30) has been reached 14 days before the meeting.

3 petitions received:

1)    ‘We the undersigned petition Surrey County Council to introduce a zebra crossing, more road school signage, and a lowering of the speed limit to 20 miles per hour on Dormansland High Street’ (Mrs Sarah Jane Lloyd)

2)    ‘We the undersigned petition Surrey County Council to lower the speed limit on Pendell Road, Bletchingley from the national speed limit to 40 and to install a 20 mile an hour speed limit outside The Hawthorns School’ (Mrs Diane Brown)

3)    ‘We the undersigned petition Surrey County Council to Reduce Speeding on Hurst Green Road, Oxted’ (Mrs Cidalia Santos and Mr Michael Walsh)

(Responses will be provided at the meeting).

Three petitions were received.

The petitions and their response are attached to the minutes.

1 - Dormansland

Mrs Sarah Jane Lloyd presented a petition containing 229 online signatures and a further 124 signatures on paper, asking for a zebra crossing, more road school signage and a lower speed limit in Dormansland High Street.

Mrs Lloyd highlighted the dangers when crossing the road, particularly with young children, given the speed of traffic and the number of parked cars affecting visibility. There is no safe place to cross. She requested a Traffic Engineer attends the site to look at the potential improvements that could be made. Mrs Lloyd said that the petition has local support, including school, preschool, and Parish Council.

Mrs Lloyd read a statement of support from the Headteacher of Dormansland Primary School, Mrs Stokes, who stated that the school site is difficult to access and there is no school crossing patrol. The school has successfully worked with the county council to start a ‘stop and drop’ scheme, but this does not help the families who would like to walk to school.

Anne-Marie Hannam, Senior Traffic Engineer, advised that a scheme to put in a crossing had been looked at in both 2002 and 2008/09, but had not progressed due to objections received from the Parish Council and residents. The Local Delivery Manager confirmed there had been a number of issues, including finding a safe location for the crossing. He advised that Highways were looking to adapt some funding with the Parish Council to put towards a crossing.

Mr Michael Sydney said that the objections received in the past were because the scheme proposed was not felt to be the right scheme, and therefore it was crucial to have the support of the shop, Parish Council, school and residents before proceeding.

Mr Nick Skellett confirmed the committee supports this petition, but needs to ensure the scheme is the right one, and to look at funding and timescales.

Highways agreed to report back to the next committee meeting on 23 September about funding and timescales.

2 – Pendell Road, Bletchingley

Mr Adrian Floyd, Headmaster at the Hawthorns School, accompanied by pupils Connor Rook, Sabina Simpson and Chris Vassou, presented a petition containing 447 online signatures, and 2 offline signatures, submitted by Mrs Diane Brown. The petition called for the speed limit on Pendell Road to be reduced to 40mph with a 20mph limit outside the Hawthorns School.

The pupils said that the road is dangerous because visibility is poor and it is difficult to see oncoming cars because the road is uphill and narrow. They stated that the footpath is narrow. They quoted statistics that 348 children were killed or seriously injured on Surrey roads during 2014. The children also stated they would like to feel able to walk to school, and that the risk of flooding on this road also meant it was important to slow the cars down.

Mr Floyd stated that there should be a 40mph lead-in before the desired 20mph limit outside the school. The school wants to work in partnership with the county council to make this road safer. The school cuts back hedges and verges where it can, and will install a ‘stop’ sign at the exit, and repaint the lines at the exit. Mr Floyd said that parents have offered to join a community speedwatch scheme if the speed limit is approved.

The Senior Traffic Engineer referred the petitioners to the tabled response, and confirmed that speed surveys would be undertaken, during term time, and the existing signage will be reviewed. 

Mrs Windsor thanked the pupils and Mr Floyd for bringing this petition with nearly 450 signatures. She appreciates there is lots of concern about this stretch of road, often used as a cut through, and gave the petition her total support. Mrs Windsor requested that the speed surveys be conducted as soon as possible. 

Mrs Marks queried the pupils’ statistics about the number of children killed or seriously injured, and believed the number given was incorrect, and the real numbers much lower.

Mr Hobley, a local resident, spoke to confirm that for a family with young children, crossing the road on a daily basis feels extremely dangerous.

Mr Skellett confirmed that the committee has a genuine wish to make improvements. The committee agreed to progress the speed survey, and when the results are in place, to look at reducing the speed limit. Mrs Brown stated that they had spoken with Chris Cannon from Surrey Police and that he supported the proposed speed limit reduction.

Mr Michael Sydney encouraged the public to report accidents, as otherwise they do not appear on the council’s accident statistics.

3 – Hurst Green Road

Mrs Cidalia Santos and Mr Michael Walsh presented a petition containing 44 signatures, asking for improvements to road safety on Hurst Green road. Mrs Santos stated that the road is not designed for the heavy goods vehicles that use it, and which make Mrs Santos’ house shake at unsociable hours. Mrs Santos said this affects all neighbours. Mrs Santos said the current situation is causing a lot of stress, and she feels that residents’ concerns have been ignored. She invited Traffic Engineers to come to the site to experience it for themselves.

Mr Walsh stated that since submitting the petition, discussions with residents have shown concerns to be broader than speeding. Mr Walsh referred the committee to a document that residents had prepared, which he had sent to the council in advance of this meeting, outlining potential solutions that residents have suggested, and which they wish to work through with Traffic Engineers.

Mr Walsh stated  that the road is now the main route out of Hurst Green, which now has a higher population than Oxted, and that there is not enough signage indicating the speed limit. Mr Walsh was clear that they wish to retain resident parking.

The Chairman thanked Mr Walsh and Mrs Santos for their petition and for the excellent additional paper provided. He has met with residents on the road, and has also met with David Curl, Parking Strategy and Implementation Team Manager on site. He acknowledged the concerns of residents and the speed of the traffic and lack of passing places. He said that the condition of the road is an issue, and the road had been part of the Horizon programme, but been deferred due to funding cuts. Mr Skellett confirmed he had requested a technical appraisal.

The Local Delivery Manager confirmed that round speed limit signs are not permitted where there is street lighting, as drivers should be aware from the Highway Code that there is a 30mph speed limit in this instance. Painting ‘30mph’ on the road is only permitted where the speed limit changes. He stated it should be possible to obtain a ‘slow’ sign and a Vehicle-Activated Sign (VAS).

Mr Hodge confirmed he had raised the issue of people from out of the area speeding along local roads and abusing Highways Officers and workmen, in a meeting with the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey. He is advocating a countywide campaign against unnecessary speeding. 

The Chairman gave his commitment to try and bring this road back onto the Horizon programme. Highways agreed to provide an update at the next committee meeting in September. The Chairman will seek some patching work in the meantime, if it does not affect the road being considered a priority for Horizon. It was agreed to pursue a VAS for the road, and Highways were asked to liaise with residents and Mr Skellett on the positioning of this.