Agenda item

To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68. 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’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

Petition 1: Janine Marks submitted a petition with 513 signatures, asking for a review of speed limits and a variety of additional highway measures between Bletchingley and Godstone .

Petition 2: Diane Brown submitted a petition with 226 signatures, requesting an urgent review the junction of Sandy Lane/ Big Common Lane/ Little Common Lane/ Pendell Road in Bletchingley and implement safety measures or changes to priorities at this accident blackspot.

Petition 3: Beverly Mann submitted a petition with 157 signatures requesting the speeds on Lingfield Common Road be reduced. 

Three petitions had been received.  Responses to the petitions were provided in the supplementary papers.

Petition 1 A25 Godstone Road, Bletchingley

Discussion for this petition was taken with ITEM 8.

The lead petition Mrs Janine Marks presented the petition.  She advised that the petition had been signed by residents in both Godstone and Bletchingley villages who had concerns regarding both the speeds of vehicles and safety on the A25.

Concerns raised included:

•           The sight lines when exiting Sunnybank.

•           Difficulty for residents crossing the road and asked if a refuge point could be installed. 

•           The cost of increasing the speed limit on the A25, was not a good use of public money.

•           Possibility of the cemetery being extended and a new housing development not being taken into consideration.

•           Request for a strategic and holistic view of the whole of the A25 from Godstone to Bletchingley.

Mr Woods, who had submitted a question on the same topic, asked to speak at this point and raised his key points which included:

•           That full consideration had not being given to the correspondence sent to the Local Committee or addressed within the report for item 8. 

•           Concerns regarding speed, and pedestrians crossing the road to get to the bus stop, and the residents do not feel safe.

Ward Members for Bletchingley and Nutfield Ward, District Councillors Tony Elias and Gill Black asked to speak to the Committee. 

Key points raised included:

•           Widespread support for this petition.

•           Concerns regarding inaccuracies within the Officer report, and steps under Surrey’s Policy -Setting Local Speed Limits not being followed correctly.

•           The letters of the support received from Bletchingley Parish Council, Opheus Centre, Godstone Village Association and Divers Cove had not been taken into consideration in the report.

•           Requesting a strategic and holistic view to the A25 between Godstone and Bletchingley rather than looking a small part.

•           The engineering methods, to reduce speeds that were agreed in 2011 have not been implemented such as the gateway.

•           Concern that there was not much evidence of any speed enforcement by Surrey Police in any local area. 

The Committee agreed to discuss the petition with the item 8 report.

Petition 2- Sandy Lane/Pendell Road/Big Common Lane/ Little Common Lane

Lead petitioner, Diane Brown presented her petition requesting a review of the junction of Sandy Lane/ Big Common Lane/ Little Common Lane/ Pendell Road.  She thanked the Committee for reducing the speed in 2017. However, stated that the junction was still dangerous due to the restricted visibility, signage and some SatNavs advising drivers that this is a through road rather than a junction.

The Area Highways Manager, thanked the lead petitioner for their attendance.  She advised that this junction is currently on the agenda to be discussed at the next Road Safety Working group in November so a variety of options will be considered.  Officers will work with the petitioner to contact the Satnav companies to ask that this be marked as a junction not a through road. 

Members Discussion – Key points

The following points were raised:

•           It was asked if the landowner could cut his hedges to improve the sightlines.  The land owner was present at the meeting, and advised would be willing to work with Surrey CC.  The Area Highways Manager thanked the landowner for his offer and Surrey CC would be in contact, should it be required following consideration of the options at the Road Safety Working Group.

•           Members requested that an update be provided at the next meeting following the Road Safety Working group meeting in November.

Resolution

The Local Committee (Tandridge) did not agree to the recommendations, wishing to wait on the outcome of the Road Safety Working Group meeting.

Petition 3 – Lingfield Common Road

Lead petitioner, Beverly Mann presented the petition, informing the Committee that this route was a rat run for people to avoid the congestion in Lingfield.  Crossing the road to the bus stop was dangerous due to the speeding traffic and asked the Committee to consider reducing the speed limit to be the same as the surrounding residential roads.

District Councillor for the Lingfield, Mark Ridge, advised he was supportive of the residents’ petition.  Drivers who are trying to avoid the pinch points use Lingfield Common Road to avoid the traffic.

The Area Highways Manager, thanked the lead petitioner for their petition, and highlighted that a speed reduction of the existing 50mph will be reduced to 40mph on Haxted Road and part of Lingfield Common Road.  This was approved by the Local Committee and would be completed by the end of March 2019.  A speed survey carried out on Lingfield Common Road in the current 40mph section, show good compliance with the existing speed limit of 40mph, and would not meet Surrey County Council’s speed limit policy for a reduction to 30mph with signs alone.

Members Key Discussion Points

•           Divisional Member, Lesley Steeds was supportive of the petition and thanked the lead petitioner for her work on the petition to date.

•           Requested that the Local Committee Chairman writes to the Police and Crime Commissioner and ask that the police regularly enforce the new speed limit.

•           The Local Committee requested that the Chairman also writes to the MP to thank him for his letter and if a 30mph speed limit is implemented in the future that the Government provides funds for supporting engineering measures.

•           It was agreed that Lingfield Common Road would be included on the Integrated Transport Schemes list for future funding. 

Resolution

The Local Committee (Tandridge) NOTED the contents of the response.