Agenda item

This report is to update members on the current status of Stage 3 of the Dorking Transport Study. The study was commissioned to provide evidence to support a potential future funding bid for a transport package for Dorking Town Centre which could be submitted to the C2C LEP to address increasing town centre congestion problems.

Declarations of interest: None

Officers present:

Steve Howard, Project Manager – Transport Policy (PMTP)

Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager (AHM)

Also present:     

 Mr Colin Kemp, Cabinet Lead Member for Place (CLMP)

Public questions:  Mr A Moreve (as part of the discussion below)

Public written statement:  Mr Reynolds Hardiman (see supplementary papers)

Due to the presence of members of the public for items 8 and 9 on the agenda the Chairman decided to take these two reports ahead of item 7.

Member discussion highlights:

1.    The PMTP advised the committee he would be meeting in the following week with the consultants. After that they would meet with stakeholders and agree the recommendations to be taken forward. The project tied in with the new local plan being drafted by the district council.

2.    Mr Moreve made the following points about the traffic signals  at Pump Corner

a.    HGVs hit the traffic lights on a weekly basis

b.    When the temporary lights went down the traffic flow improved and vehicles stopped for pedestrians to cross

c.    The county and district councils needed to work together to find solutions as congestion is severely impacting the town’s businesses.

d.    HGVs should not be allowed to turn up South Street

3.    The PMTP acknowledged that Pump Corner was a pinch point but that there was no easy solution. Signals had already been ‘tweaked’ to improve traffic flow.

4.    The Chairman acknowledged the validity of the points made by Mr Moreve and questioned whether highways had looked at the vulnerability of the equipment at that location.

5.    The ward member for Okewood (MVDC Leader) expressed her surprise at the level of detail in the report; she had expected another stakeholder meeting to have taken place before the publication of any further reports.

6.     The CLMP agreed to meet with the MVDC Leader (and local divisional members) to walk round the town to see the issues first hand.

7.    He reminded members that the councils would have to engage in a competitive bidding process to secure any funding.

8.    The divisional member for Dorking Hills suggested the removal of the right turn cycle lane at pump corner.

9.    The divisional member for Dorking and the Holmwoods expressed disappointment that the report did not set out any positive recommendations.

10.  The Chairman acknowledged the receipt of the statement submitted by Mr Hardiman.(see supplementary papers)

11.  Members discussed other ideas such as preferred delivery times (some had been set but not enforced); re-directing HGVs away from the town unless delivering; intelligent pedestrian lights.

12.  The CLMP cautioned against a move to turn off the lights at Pump Corner; in the beginning drivers were likely to be careful but were unlikely to sustain that level of attention.

13.  He also stressed the need for all boroughs and districts to unlock sources of funding through housing development.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed to:

(i)    Note the current status and emerging themes of the Dorking Transport Study Stages 1 & 2 Data Collection and Issues & Opportunities made to date as previously presented.

(ii)   Note the assessment of further potential options analysed in Stage 3 Option Testing & Developing Strategy and note that a package of sustainable transport measures is likely to emerge as the most favourable approach to receive funding support, but this will be confirmed following the conclusion of the Stage 3 and the issue of the final report for the current Dorking Transport Study.  Work on finalising the final Stage 3 report is still ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2018.

(iii)Note the comments, ideas and points raised

(iv)Note the short, medium and long-term ideas

(v)  Note there will be stakeholder’s meeting; Cabinet Lead Member for Place (SCC) to meet  with the Leader of Mole Valley District Council and the two local divisional members.