To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 14.1. 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 or Woking Borough Council’s e-petitions website as long as the minimum number of signatures (30) has been reached 14 days before the meeting.
Petitions received:
a) We the undersigned petition Woking Borough Council to take action to bring back overnight street lighting.
b) Given the planned extensive work to increase access to the Hoe Valley, We the undersigned petition Surrey County Council to urgently implement a 20mph speed limit and HGV restriction on the most dangerous section of White Rose Lane and commit to completing a footpath along its entire route as soon as practicable.
Minutes:
Two petitions were received and discussed:
a) We the undersigned petition Woking Borough Council to take action to bring back overnight street lighting.
Mr Hugh Wicks spoke in support of the petition and raised the following points:
Residents want the streetlights back on and 462 signatures have been gathered. The consultation undertaken was short and there was little publicity on the issue. The last 6 months has seen an increase in burgulary and car crime, with some occurring between midnight and 5am when the lights are switched off. Residents feel they have a midnight curfew and that their quality of life has been reduced. We wrote to the Chief Executive and have now presented a petition as we want lights back on in Byfleet.
It was noted that this petition was tabled for the joint committee to discuss, however, since then, Surrey County Council will allow Borough and District Councils to switch their lights back on across their areas – if they meet the cost of this. This petition will therefore be referred to the Borough Council for decision, but the Borough would like the views of Joint Committee members.
Joint Committee members raised the following points:
The County Council switch off policy is not blanket across the whole of the Borough and lights stay on at major roads or well used areas. Surrey County Council can review individual areas and switching on of lights will be considered when referred by the Surrey Police for crime or safety reasons. If the Borough Council did want to go ahead and pay for lighting after midnight, this would need to be across the whole Borough for a 5 year period. Some residents prefer the switch off as it is better for the planet and reduces light pollution, however, some residents that worked nights / shifts had genuine concerns over safety. The Police Officer present confirmed that Byfleet burgularies have increased during the daytime, but not after midnight.
It was noted that Joint Committee members were not asked to vote on this issue, but gave views that a local approach and review was much better than a borough wide switch on at an enormous cost commitment.
b) Given the planned extensive work to increase access to the Hoe Valley, We the undersigned petition Surrey County Council to urgently implement a 20mph speed limit and HGV restriction on the most dangerous section of White Rose Lane and commit to completing a footpath along its entire route as soon as practicable.
Mr Mike Kelly spoke in support of the petition and raised the following points:.
White Rose Lane is used to access 2 schools and an area of land for a wetland amenity park. The lane has blind bends and cars have to swerve around pedestrians. Pedestrians are hemmed n with no refuges. Until we have a footpath, we need a speed reduction to 20mph which will only involve a few signs as we already have speed bumps and islands.
Joint Committee members raised the following points:
The speed limit on this lane was discussed by the Committee in 2014. Members supported resident concerns and the points raised in the petition, but noted that accident statistics (2 recorded) did not detail speed as a factor. Although a footpath or boardwalk was the ideal, this would be very difficult to achieve due to the width of the road and could involve loss of front gardens which was previously opposed by residents. Some members felt that the report did not account for changing circumstances with developments, more traffic, more parking and traffic cutting through the area. There was strong support for a boardwalk as part of the Hoe Valley flood alleviation scheme and some Members felt that the focus should be on that rather then an interim speed limit that might not prove to be effective. It was felt that HGV access was not excessive in the area and any restrictions would impede deliveries to local homes.
The Chair summarised that it had been a long and good debate and that while the petition covered two areas, an HGV limit would not be appropriate and a 20mph zone needed further investigation.
RESOLVED
That a further report be brought to the Joint Committee on how a 20mph zone could be achieved within the current SCC Speed Policy, together with associated costs of any scheme.