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.

Petition 1

One petition with 42 signatures has been received from Burstow Parish Council.  It is asking SCC to consider changing Wheelers lane, Smallfield, Surrey, to one directional travel only from an east to west direction. 

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager, Duncan Knox, Road Safety and Active Travel Manager.

The lead petitioner Mr Ian Wates, Chairman of Burstow Parish Council presented the petition. He felt that the response from the Engineer did not offer positive action to resolve the matter and did not recognise the near misses or the difficulties when vehicles are crossing from Plough Road to Wheelers Lane or vice versa.  He asked the Committee to consider positive action to improve the traffic movement at the dangerous junction and he feels that this option is straightforward and simple. As the site is rural they do not wish for traffic lights to be installed and the traffic table and 20mph zone is not recognised by residents or enforceable.

Public Statement, Comment: A resident on Wheelers lane, supported the idea of the one way travel as difficult for him exiting his property.  He felt that £100,000 is extremely costly to change to a one way travel, he asked if the Council had money for a survey.

Member discussion – key points:

1)    The Divisional Member fully supports the petition, as it is dangerous when turning into and out of Wheelers Lane, however she also understood the position of Highways. 

2)    Members requested that Officers work with District Councillors and the police to take a more detailed look at this junction and Redehall Road. 

3)    Members asked if improvements to this road could be included in a CIL bid. The Area Highways advised that from experience a one way system would increase traffic speeds and can cause other issues.  Officers felt this solution would not be the most appropriate for this site.  There is no revenue funding available this financial year, for a feasibility study to be carried out to establish costs and designs to put forward a CIL bid for the construction.  The SCC process for CIL bids has recently changed, and guidance is being put together and will be issued shortly.  Until full guidance is available she is unable to say if a scheme could be funded through CIL funding. 

4)    It was felt it was not a speeding matter the issues are the exit and entrance to the junction.

5)    Members asked how many accidents had been recorded at the site.  Highway Officers responded that they work with the Road Safety Team and Officers meet twice a year to discuss accident blackspots in Tandridge and look at ways to reduced accidents at the sites.  Officers note the local support at this site. Officers are aware of the injury to a child a few years ago, and proposals were designed and approved by the Local Committee in 2017.  The Road Safety Officer raised concern that with a one way system in place there would be a steady stream of traffic and this would make it difficult to cross the road.  He confirmed there is a CIL bid being prepared, however it has not been put forward yet. Accident data for Wheelers lane was not available at the meeting however data from all accidents that are reported anywhere in the country can be viewed at www.crashmap.co.uk . District Councillor Cooper expressed his disappointment that the figures were not available for the meeting.

6)    Mr Chris Botten is the Chairman of Governors at Burstow School.  He agreed that it is a significant problem that needs to be resolved.  A concern is outside the school where driver behaviour is an issue.  Mr Botten suggested blocking the access to Wheelers Lane at the eastern end at Redehall Road, this could be cut off by bollards.  If the car park secures planning permission on Redehall road, the school could assist by asking parents to park in new car park and walk to school safely, this would ensure the safety of the children and would provide an alternative to the one way proposal. Mrs Lesley Steeds proposed an additional recommendation that ‘Highways Officers meet with the Parish Council, local councillors and the school to discuss options to move this matter forward and find a solution’.   This was seconded by the Chairman and agreed by the Committee.

Resolution

The Local Committee (Tandridge)

i)              NOTED the Officer response.

ii)            AGREED that Officers meet with the Parish Council, Local Councillors and the school to discuss options to move this matter forward and find a solution.