Agenda item

The A29 Ockley Road/Beare Green Road/Stane Street, Ockley, and the A243 Kingston Road, Leatherhead have suffered a history of road collisions including several resulting in serious injury and some resulting in death. It is proposed that the existing speed limits on these roads (consisting of either 60mph or 50mph) are reduced to 40mph. This will help to reduce traffic speeds which will reduce the risk and severity of collisions and will improve the consistency in the speed limits on these routes.

The A217 Reigate Road to the north of Hookwood has a 50mph limit between the existing 40 mph speed limit on the northbound approach to the Westvale Park roundabout and the existing 40mph speed limit in Hookwood. It is proposed that the existing speed limit of 50mph is reduced to 40mph in order to reduce the risk and severity of collisions and to improve the consistency in the speed limits on this route. This would be undertaken as part of the A217 Department for Transport Safer Roads Fund project to improve the safety along the whole A217 route between Reigate and Horley.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley):

 i.       Noted the results of the speed limit assessments undertaken;

ii.       Agreed that, based upon the evidence, the speed limit be reduced to 40mph (from 60 mph or 50mph) in the section of the A29 Ockley Road/Beare Green Road and Stane Street, Ockley, for the length which extends from a point 60 metres south-west of the junction with the Beare Green Roundabout south-westwards to a point 260 metres north-east of the junction with Coles Lane.

iii.       Agreed that, based upon the evidence, the speed limit be reduced to 40mph (from 60mph) in the section of the A243 Kingston Road Leatherhead for the length which extends from a point 200 metres north of its junction with the Junction 9 Roundabout to a point 80 metres south of its junction with Epsom Gap.

iv.       Authorised the advertisement of a notice in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to implement the proposed speed limit changes described above, revoke any existing traffic orders necessary to implement the change, and, subject to no objections being upheld, that the order be made;

v.       Noted that a speed limit order has already been advertised in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to implement a change in speed limit from 50 mph to 40 mph on the A217 Reigate Road for the length of road which is currently 50 mph between the Westvale Park roundabout and the junction with Horse Hill, and to revoke any existing traffic orders necessary to implement the change. Note that part of the speed limit change proposal on the A217 described above falls within Reigate and Banstead. The Reigate & Banstead local committee have previously authorised the advertisement of this order.

vi.       Authorised delegation of authority to the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice-Chairman of the Local Committee and the local divisional member to resolve any objections received in connection with the proposals described above.

Reason for Decisions:

The above decision were made because a reduced speed limit would help to reduce traffic speeds and therefore reduce risk and severity of collisions on the A29 Ockley Road/Beare Green Road and Stane Street, Ockley and the A243 Kingston Road, Leatherhead where there has been a history of collisions including death and serious injury.

A reduced speed limit on the A217 Reigate Road, Hookwood would also reduce the

risk and severity of collisions and would improve the consistency in the speed limits

on this road.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Duncan Knox, Road Safety and Active Travel Team Manager (RSATTM), SCC

Petitions, Public Statements, Questions: None

The RSATTM introduced the report noting that the Road Safety Working Group had  identified a history of collisions on A29 and A243 that they believed could be addressed by a reduction in speed limit. Having conducted speed limit assessments, officers noted that average speeds were close enough to 40mph that it was felt reducing the speed limit on these roads could make a difference on its own. 

The RSATTM noted the proposal in relation to A217 was to convert a 50mph stretch - sandwiched between two 40mph stretches - to 40mph. This would then result in one continuous 40mph stretch.

The officer further added that he had already proceeded to advertise this, for which he apologised, acknowledging that he should have sought permission from this Local Committee to advertise, before doing so. He stated that when the results from the consultation were in, he would present these to the Mole Valley Local Committee to see if the committee wished to proceed. He concluded he had previously taken this proposal to the Reigate & Banstead Local Committee for decision. For which they had already agreed to its advertisement.

Key points from the discussion:

·         Members thanked the RSATTM for his report and welcomed the suggested proposals to reduce the speed limits. It was felt residents would likely be very supportive of these proposals also.

·         In relation to the A29 speed limit reduction, it was requested a 20mph advisory sign on a sharp bend be kept in place as it encouraged motorists to slow down accordingly.

Resolution:

The Local Committee (Mole Valley):

 i.       Noted the results of the speed limit assessments undertaken;

ii.       Agreed that, based upon the evidence, the speed limit be reduced to 40mph (from 60 mph or 50mph) in the section of the A29 Ockley Road/Beare Green Road and Stane Street, Ockley, for the length which extends from a point 60 metres south-west of the junction with the Beare Green Roundabout south-westwards to a point 260 metres north-east of the junction with Coles Lane.

iii.       Agreed that, based upon the evidence, the speed limit be reduced to 40mph (from 60mph) in the section of the A243 Kingston Road Leatherhead for the length which extends from a point 200 metres north of its junction with the Junction 9 Roundabout to a point 80 metres south of its junction with Epsom Gap.

iv.       Authorised the advertisement of a notice in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to implement the proposed speed limit changes described above, revoke any existing traffic orders necessary to implement the change, and, subject to no objections being upheld, that the order be made;

v.       Noted that a speed limit order has already been advertised in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to implement a change in speed limit from 50 mph to 40 mph on the A217 Reigate Road for the length of road which is currently 50 mph between the Westvale Park roundabout and the junction with Horse Hill, and to revoke any existing traffic orders necessary to implement the change. Note that part of the speed limit change proposal on the A217 described above falls within Reigate and Banstead. The Reigate & Banstead local committee have previously authorised the advertisement of this order.

vi.       Authorised delegation of authority to the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice-Chairman of the Local Committee and the local divisional member to resolve any objections received in connection with the proposals described above.

Reason for Decisions:

The above decision were made because a reduced speed limit would help to reduce traffic speeds and therefore reduce risk and severity of collisions on the A29 Ockley Road/Beare Green Road and Stane Street, Ockley and the A243 Kingston Road, Leatherhead where there has been a history of collisions including death and serious injury.

A reduced speed limit on the A217 Reigate Road, Hookwood would also reduce the risk and severity of collisions and would improve the consistency in the speed limits on this road.