Agenda item

To receive a petition from Mrs J Creamer and Mrs J Burge on speeding in Windlesham.  The petition states asks the Committee “to consider a 20mph speed limit, with relevant features, along Heathpark Drive, Birch Road and Oakwood Road, Windlesham”.

A petition has been received in advance of the Local Committee Public Meeting on 2 March 2017 requesting the Committee consider a 20mph speed limit, with relevant features, along Heathpark Drive, Birch Road and Oakwood Road, Windlesham.

The petition was received 15 December 2016 and was passed to Surrey County Council Officers to provide a report on the matter in time for the coming meeting.

After much discussion, it was agreed that this was an exceptional case (with an 80% increase in traffic over the past 3 years) and the Local Committee (Surrey Heath) agreed that:

(i)    The Area Highways Manager reconsider the recommendations with the local County Councillor with the aim of bringing a designated 20mph scheme back to the next Local Committee.

(ii)  The Chair of the Local Committee write to the relevant Cabinet Member stating Surrey Heath Local Committees’ support for 20mph schemes within the local speed limit policy.  (Step 6 of the policy states that if the Committee disagree with the recommendations presented to them by the Highways Manager and wish to proceed with an alternative option, then the issue must be submitted for decision by the Cabinet Member responsible for road safety).

The amended recommendations were proposed by C.Cllr Mike Goodman and seconded by Cllrs Valerie White and Bill Chapman.

A written petition was received in advance of the meeting, requesting the Committee consider a 20mph speed limit, with relevant features, along Heathpark Drive, Birch Road and Oakwood Road, Windlesham.

The petition was received 15 December 2016 and was passed to Surrey County Council Officers to provide a report on the matter in time for this meeting.

The petition called for a 20mph speed limit on the estate.   Although the County Highways report was not in support, the petitioners felt that common sense should prevail to ensure the safety of all residents.   It was true that there had been no major crashes but their concern was to prevent any happening at all.   Parents were particularly concerned for the safety of their children.

The petitioner stated that Heathpark Drive was the only residential road in Windlesham which was a “through road”.   Although Heathpark Drive was the main drag, Birch Road and Oakwood Road were also affected because drivers had to wait at a T-junction with Heathpark Drive to exit their roads.   This was therefore a special case and granting their request would not cause a precedent.

It was claimed that traffic had increased dramatically over the last ten years and, due to the speed at which vehicles were coming through the estate, residents were angry and fearful of crashes occurring.  Although the traffic situation might improve from a numbers point of view when the bridge reopened - it was believed that it would not have an impact on the speed at which vehicles travelled.

A petition suggestion was for an area-wide signed 20mph limit.   Signs, lines, and road markings could indicate that the driver was entering a residential estate and could be introduced without expensive traffic calming.   This would cost 50 times less than humped zones and studies showed lower speed resulted in 20% fewer casualties.   Compliance would be increased by publicity, driver awareness and community involvement, with light touch policing or community speed watch.  20mph speed limits could be indicated by terminal speed limit signs with an option to put in repeater signs.   These were relatively cheap and easy to install on lamp posts and residents believed that a limit scheme would cost £5-7K.

After much discussion, it was agreed that this was an exceptional case (with an 80% increase in traffic over the past 3 years) and the Local Committee (Surrey Heath) agreed that:

(i)    The Area Highways Manager reconsider the recommendations with the local County Councillor with the aim of bringing a designated 20mph scheme back to the next Local Committee.

(ii)  The Chair of the Local Committee write to the relevant Cabinet Member stating Surrey Heath Local Committees’ support for 20mph schemes within the local speed limit policy.  (Step 6 of the policy states that if the Committee disagree with the recommendations presented to them by the Highways Manager and wish to proceed with an alternative option, then the issue must be submitted for decision by the Cabinet Member responsible for road safety).

The amended recommendations were proposed by C.Cllr Mike Goodman and seconded by Cllrs Valerie White and Bill Chapman.