Agenda item

The speed limit on the A25 Godstone Road in Bletchingley was reduced from 50mph to 30mph in 2012.  Concerns have been expressed by Surrey Police that a section of the 30mph speed limit is not effective.  Therefore, a speed limit assessment has been carried out following the process set out in Surrey’s policy “Setting Local Speed Limits”.   As a result of this assessment it is proposed that the existing 30mph speed limit in a section of Godstone Road and also in the un-named service roads fronting Chevington Villas and Sunnybank Villas, be increased to 40mph. 

This report seeks approval for the changes to the speed limit in accordance with Surrey’s policy.

This item was deferred from Local Committee meeting on 22 June 2018.

(Report and 3 annexes attached)

Taken after item 6 on the agenda.

Declarations of interest: None

Officer attending: Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager

Petition, Public Questions, Statements: Petition, public question and statements raised under Item 4.  The chairman permitted district councillor Mr Tony Elias to make a further statement.

The Officer advised of a correction to the date in the papers.  The report had previously been deferred at the meeting held on the 23 September 2016 not the 9 December 2016.

The Area Highways Manager presented the report, thanking all for their comments and information received about this issue and they, have been taken into consideration. The depth of local feeling is understood. The report is brought to the committee in line with the council’s approved policy that aims to set successful local speed limits that are appropriate for the main users of the road (Setting local speed limits policy). This report has been brought before the committee as the speed limit on the section of road is not in accordance with the Surrey Policy- Setting Local Speed Limits. This references national policy issued by central government and nation policy issued by Association of Chief Police Officers. The previous speed limit reduction on this road, from 50mph to 30mph, with supporting engineering measures has been shown to be ineffective.

As this is a decision on a Surrey Policy, there are two options in the recommendations for the committee to decide on. The report asks for the committee to agree to increase the speed limit from 30mph to 40mph on the 400m section on the A25, Bletchingley or referred to the Cabinet Member responsible for Road Safety.  The Police have advised that they would support a 40mph speed limit, and would be willing to enforce speeds if it was in accordance with the speed policy. There could be a community speed watch set up, if the speed limit is in line with the Surrey policy. If approved, new yellow-backed, 40mph signs could be installed. The Area Highways Manager advised that average speed cameras can be considered on single carriage roads, where an appropriate speed limit in in place, on this section of road this would be 40mph.

Public statement

Mr Elias’ statement included the following points:

•           There were errors and omissions in this report, and previous reports to the committee, to such an extent that they invalidate any decisions to be taken by the committee.

•           Referred members to the report brought to the committee in 2011 and the reasons given as to why the speed limit was considered appropriate at 30mph, and how it would secure support from Surrey Police.

•           The originally agreed supporting engineering measure of the village gateway sign has not been implemented. Therefore it is not appropriate to consult Surrey Police at this point, and not possible to evaluate the success of the scheme. Concern that Surrey Highways were therefore not following the steps in the agreed Setting Local Speed Limits Policy.

•           New houses, and changes to the area, meant that the road needed to be considered holistically along with Bletchingley and Godstone, and the parish councils consulted. The item was deferred in 2016 for this work.

•           Views of parish councils and local people do not seem to have been taken into account.

•           Question why the committee are not being asked to consider further engineering measures. For example, installing a new speed camera, a pedestrian refuge, or moving the existing VAS sign.

•           Further concerns around the council’s adherence to the Setting Local Speed Limits policy, such as the length of road.

The Area Highway Manager made the following points in response:

•           The Area Highway Manager apologised that it was not reported to the local committee at this time that there had been consideration of a village gateway, but that insufficient road width meant it was not put in. However other supporting measures were put in – including red surfacing, ‘dragons’ teeth’ marking and signage. This is why Surrey Police have asked for the speed limit to be reviewed through the speed assessment.

•           As the road is part of the strategic highway network, road tables or road cushions are not appropriate – the road is used by HGVs.

•           Officers have asked whether it would be possible to have average speed cameras on this road. Surrey Police indicate they would support this if the speed limit is appropriate. Surrey Police consider the current speed limit to be inappropriate.

•           It is not possible to move the VAS sign.

•           The speed limit would remain at 30mph at the entrance to the cemetery.

Mr Elias made some further points in response, outlining ongoing concern about the application of the policy, lack of police enforcement, and how speed limits are ignored on many roads.

Members Discussion- Key points

•           The Chairman acknowledged the depth of feeling expressed both at the meeting, and beforehand.

•           Concern that the report does not give members all the evidence they need to lower the speed limit, and feel that need to take a holistic view about the whole stretch from Bletchingley to Godstone. Need to take into concern new housing developments.

•           Need to listen to residents. Report does not give weight to local opinion.

•           Concern that while the policy is sound, it has not been properly applied in this instance. Others disagreed with the policy.

•           It cannot be appropriate for a service road to be 40mph.

•           Increasing amount of traffic coming from the East with drivers avoiding the roadworks on the M23. This should be taken into consideration.

Cllr Cannon proposed an alternative recommendation. He proposed that the ‘decision on this item should be deferred until such time as the officers have implemented the supporting engineering measures decided in 2011 and any other such engineering measures that are considered necessary such as moving the VAS sign, a speed camera and pedestrian refuge, and until such time as they are ready to bring to the Local Committee a holistic and strategic response to the whole section of the  A25 from Chevington Villas to Bletchingley to the boundary of Godstone where the 30mph sign is currently located to take account of the new information received from the petitioners, Parish Council, local District Councillors, Orpheus Centre, Godstone Village Association and Divers Cove’.  This was seconded by Cllr Martin Fisher. Members agreed to remove the reference to ‘pedestrian refuge’ from the proposal, as achieving this is something that would take a long time.

•           Could the speed camera be moved.

•           Did Surrey Highways provide a view on the Knights’ Development?

•           Whether a more consistent speed limit across a longer stretch of road could be appropriate for average speed cameras.

Resolution

The committee moved to take a decision. Members requested a report back to the committee within 3 months, to consider the full stretch of road holistically.

At this point, the proposed recommendation put forward by councillor Cannon during the discussion was read to the committee, with the removal of the reference to the pedestrian refuge. Members verbally indicated they supported this proposal.

Mr Hodge declared that the proposal was not correct. The recommendation should be that members have listened to the public. The public are clear that we want a review of the speed limits coming out of Godstone, to the Tandridge boundary. What is the right speed that officers should recommend to councillors. Then members can take a decision. If the route was 30mph, the committee could look at whether it is possible to have average speed cameras along this stretch. Members verbally indicated agreement with this.

The chairman confirmed that the committee was agreeing to defer the item, for officers to return with a new report.