Agenda item

To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68.  Notice should be given in writing or by e-mail to the Partnership 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.

Two petitions have been received and officer responses are provided:

Install a Pedestrian Crossing on the Hersham Bypass A244

2892 signatures. Lead petitioner Katie Dando

Resurface Rectory Close, Long Ditton

20 signatures. Lead petitioner: Mr Marcus Williams

The Local Committee (Elmbridge) agreed:

Hersham Bypass

That the Area Highways Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be asked to consider whether there is further funding available from the surplus on the on street parking account and if possible agree to allocate funding of approximately £5,000, to carry out a feasibility study to consider options for improving pedestrian safety on the A244 Hersham Bypass.

Reasons: To look at options to address the issues raised in the petition submitted to the Committee

Declarations of Interest: Cllr Mary Sheldon declared a personal interest as a resident on the Hersham Bypass.

Officers attending: Nick Healey, Area Highways Manager

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: Two petitions were received

Petition 1 – Hersham Bypass

The petitioner explained that her father had sadly been killed by a speeding motorcyclist on this stretch of road and he has been charged with death by dangerous driving.  The road is a dual carriageway, along which are bus stops and houses with driveways backing onto the road.  Existing safe crossings are too far apart for people to walk the extra distance to cross.  There have been a number of incidents in the past 10-12 years including other fatalities.  Although to provide an additional crossing is costly the cost of accidents in terms of police and court cost would far exceed this.

Petition 2 – Rectory Close

The petitioner indicated that there is now very little tarmac remaining in the road and they had hoped that it might be suitable for a trial of a new technique to scrape off the tarmac and seal the joints in the concrete below.  Residents are prepared to take legal action if no action is taken by the county council.

Member discussion –key points

Petition 1 – Members thanked the petitioner for bringing forward the petition and expressed their sympathy at the death of her father.  They agreed that the road is difficult to cross, having four lanes of fast moving traffic with only a narrow central reservation and no speed controls.  They noted that when the road had been reduced to a single carriageway for work to be carried out, that traffic seemed to have travelled more slowly and safely.  Although there may not be large numbers of pedestrians crossing currently, there are people who would walk in particular to access the station if it was safer to cross.  There was previously a VAS sign which is no longer working and members asked whether this could be reinstated or replaced.  Average speed cameras, reducing the speed limit to 30mph and a pedestrian bridge were also suggested as possible improvements to be considered to improve pedestrian safety, in addition to a pedestrian crossing.  The Area Highways Manager indicated that a feasibility study would be needed to determine the best solution, but that the Committee didn’t currently have funding available to carry this out.  However, it was possible that there could be more funding available from the surplus on the on street parking account which could potentially be allocated to this.

Petition 2 – The Area Highways Manager indicated that it was still possible that a trial of a new technique may go ahead but there are no firm plans currently.  This road would be unlikely to be a priority for funding either from the central maintenance budget or the Committee’s budget at the current time.

The local member indicated that this problem is an ongoing issue with the many concrete roads in Surrey, which are never going to be a priority with the limited funding available and something needs to be done to address the poor quality of these roads.

Resolved:

Hersham Bypass

That the Area Highways Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be asked to consider whether there is further funding available from the surplus on the on street parking account and if possible agree to allocate funding of approximately £5,000, to carry out a feasibility study to consider options for improving pedestrian safety on the A244 Hersham Bypass.

Reasons: To look at options to address the issues raised in the petition submitted to the Committee