Agenda item

To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68.  Notice should be given in writing or by e-mail 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.

Three petitions have been received:

a) A petition with 16 signatures from Ms Joan Choules requesting SCC to change the new parking restrictions in Goldrings Road, Oxshott.

b) A petition with 430 signatures from Mr Nick Thripp requesting SCC to introduce more effective traffic management measures along Princes Road, Pine Grove and York Road (South) in Weybridge, aimed at reducing traffic volumes and speeds.

c) A petition with 79 signatures from  Mr James Taylor and Mrs Iwona Januszajtis-Neale  requesting SCC  to resurface Queens Road, Hersham from Westcar Lane roundabout to the roundabout opposite Watermans Arms.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Adrian Harris (Parking Engineer)

                                 Nick Healey (Area Highway Manager NE)

Three petitions were received.  The details of the petitions and responses where provided are attached as Annexes B, C & D.

On behalf of Ms Joan Choules, Mr Brian Sutherland presented the petition with 16 signatures, requesting SCC to change the new parking restrictions in Goldrings Rd, Oxshott.  He explained that recently some parking restrictions in Goldrings Rd had been removed so that non residents could now park all day in certain places in the road. This was only benefitting approximately 10 to 15 people who were now avoiding paying the railway station car park charges.  The parked cars had also created a hazard for residents reversing out of their drives, a hazard which didn’t exist previously.

The officer responded explaining that some restrictions had been removed as part of the Committee’s Parking Strategy was to provide parking.  He added that the team had ensured that restrictions hadn’t been removed close to junctions or driveways so as not to create a hazard and in fact parked cars could have the effect of reducing the speed of traffic.  The issue could be considered again at the next review due to start at the end of 2017/18.

Members’ comments included:

·         Support for the petitioners’ request

·         Support for the strategy which was trying to free up parking spaces

Margaret Hicks proposed and Mike Bennsion seconded that an addition was added to the recommendation to ensure the road was included in the next parking review in the area.

The Local Committee resolved to note the contents of the report and include the issue in the next phase of the Elmbridge Parking Review at the end of 2017/18.

The second petition with 430 signatures was presented by Dr Alan Wright, on behalf of Mr Nick Thripp, from the Triangle Residents’ Group, requesting SCC to introduce more effective traffic management measures along Princes Road, Pine Grove and York Road (south) in Weybridge, aimed at reducing traffic volumes and speeds.

Dr Alan Wright spoke explaining  that the ‘Triangle’ was the area formed by the B373, the A317 and the London to Portsmouth railway line.  When the traffic choked at the Monument Hill junction then traffic including HGVs used Princes Road, Pine Grove and York Road with their blind bends and parked cars as a short cut. Statistics did not reveal the hazards facing the residents  which included the catchment area for Manby Lodge and Heathside Schools which were also both expanding.

He continued, as a first step the petitioners were requesting a 20 mph area and associated restrictions. They were aware that 20 mph had already been implemented elsewhere in Portmore Park Rd, Weybridge and Wodeland Ave., Guildford.  They were very happy to co-operate with the experts and understood the current financial pressures and were seeking a holistic approach to prevent accidents.

Ramon Gray, the Weybridge Divisional Member, who was unable to attend the meeting, had submitted some comments prior to the meeting which the Chairman read out.  His comments are attached in Annexe 3.

Councillor Peter Harman spoke in support of the petition explaining the area was used by a lot of child cyclists and asked that the Local Committee supported it too.

A response to the petition would be provided at the next meeting.

The third petition with 79 signatures was presented by Mrs Iwona Januszajtis requesting SCC to resurface Queens Rd., Hersham from Westcar Lane roundabout to the roundabout opposite the Watermans Arms.  She explained that there had been a rapid deterioration in the road surface which was very dangerous to both cyclists and pedestrians. It was also a bus route and yet there had been no commitment from SCC to resurface the road.  Other roads such as Primrose Road had been resurfaced instead, why was this?  She added that she felt SCC was failing in its duty of care.

The Highways officer explained that at the previous two Committee cycles we had also received petitions requesting roads to be resurfaced so we were in a difficult position.  SCC had a statutory duty to maintain the highway so it was safe for public use.  The thresholds for classification as a safety defect were pot holes 40mm+ deep on the road and 20mm+ deep for a cycle lane, which was in line with the National Code of Practice.  The team followed regular inspection schedules and also followed up on notifications from residents and councillors.  He added many other roads in Hersham were also in a bad condition, but the team must prioritise.

The roads on the previous Operation Horizon programme were prioritised based on part technical and part on consultation whereas the upcoming Horizon programme would be prioritised solely on a technical basis and Queens Rd wass not on the programme for the next 5 years. The officer added that the Local Committee could fund the resurfacing of Queens Rd., but that would take the majority of the budget, which would not be finalised until the end of March.  Queens Road was on a running list and would be considered by the Committee each year.

Members’ key comments included:

·         That they regularly inspected roads and constantly reported defects

·         It was up to the Committee how they split the budget

·         The road was heavily used by cyclists and it was not safe

·         Could the 1m at the edge of the road to help cyclists be resurfaced

The officer responded by confirming he would request his team to make an adhoc inspection of the road. He would not recommend only resurfacing the 1m at the side as that would encourage cyclists to cycle in the gutter which was not recommended as the safest place.