Councillors and committees

Agenda item

HIGHWAYS UPDATE REPORT [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION FOR INFORMATION]

To inform the Local Committee on the progress of the 2018/19 Integrated Transport and highways maintenance programmes in Reigate and Banstead.

Minutes:

Declarations of interest: None

 

Officers in attendance: Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager

 

Public questions, petitions or statements: None

 

 

Member discussion highlights:

 

1.    The £1,000 budget for speed limit assessments was sufficient for approximately six in 2018/19 based on an average cost of £180 for the tubes.

2.    (Refer 2.7) Only some sections of the A23 shared cycle way had bollards to prevent parking. It had not been necessary to install them in those areas where there were no parking issues or the path was wide enough for vehicles to park. This would be considered as part of the safety audit.

3.    The maintenance gang did not carry out patching on the footway; this was done by Kier. Members could use some of their £7500 highway allocations to fund this work.

4.    The Cabinet Lead Member for Place would be compiling a document for members, with information on the work of the revenue maintenance gang. Of the £100,000 allocated in the budget approx. £70,000 funded a full-time gang for mostly off highway works across the borough. The remaining £30,000 (approx) paid for materials.

5.    M25 junction 8 – members were disappointed that Highways England seemed to be moving ahead with this and the A23 Brighton Road, Hooley schemes irrespective of the objections and concerns they had expressed to its representatives at the recent informal local committee meeting.

6.    In particular members were concerned about the impact that the planned changes would have on local traffic flow. There was no county funding available to manage the resulting bottle necks for example on Reigate Hill. The Chairman agreed to write to Highways England to set out the local committee’s concerns.

7.    Officers were aware of the damage that had been done by HGVs to the central verge on the A217 in Lower Kingswood. Officers were considering possible traffic management options to allow reinstatement works to take place.

8.    Members asked about the amount of funding had been allocated to implement the NCR21 diversion across the footbridge at Salfords Station and whether there were plans to connect the new cycle route on the A23 to Epsom hospital.

9.    The AHM agreed to check with the relevant teams on these points and report back to members.

10.  Members highlighted the fact that some of the lining work from the parking review 2016-17 still had not been implemented and asked that the parking team report back on which measures were still outstanding and when they would be completed.

11.  Members were aware of the difficulties posed by parked vehicles in preventing this work being completed but urged officers to revise their approach in either removing vehicles if possible or through enforcement. The AHM agreed to pass on to the parking team a suggestion to put down cones before commuters arrive.

12.  A second sinkhole has appeared in Victoria Road, Horley and the Asset Team are in discussion with the Utilities. The Chairman was hoping to have a meeting with SESW representatives and divisional members next month.

13.  Discussions are underway on whether Victoria Road could be temporarily patched in time for the Horley Carnival on 15 June 2018.

14.  Members asked for an update on the Preston regeneration scheme and progress on the design of works in Chetwode Road. This was a jointly funded scheme led by the borough council and Peter Boarder (SCC/RBBC officer) was working with the design team to identify solutions.

15.  Members expressed their concerns that schemes were not being effectively coordinated and that communication with residents needed improving. The Chairman encouraged members to check for themselves the accuracy of any diversion routes.

16.  Members expressed concerns over the delay in adopting of roads as part of the Horley Masterplan (refer decision tracker)

17.  The cameras on the A217 (including the two not working) will all be calibrated to work fully as part of the traffic management system once the water (SES) works had been completed.

18.  With reference to the LED lighting proposal members would like consideration be given to leaving the new lights on all night.

19.  Members expressed frustration that there was not a better way for residents to report issues on the highway at the inefficiency and accessibility of the ‘Report it’ tab where faults on the highway are reported. The report it tab has been improved however the AHM has passed on the suggestion of a GPS based app to the Innovations Board. Residents should be encouraged to use it rather than a third party app to ensure that any issues are received by the county council.

20.  The divisional member for Reigate expressed her disappointment at not having received answers from the local highways team to the questions she had submitted as part of the March meeting.

21.  The AHM apologised for the delay and would follow up on the responses as a matter of priority.

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

The Local Committee (Reigate and Banstead) agreed to note the contents of this report.

 

Supporting documents: