Agenda item

The Epsom Station redevelopment is substantially complete.  Road space needs to be allocated to the various anticipated users of Station Approach.  Traffic Regulation Orders are required to establish road space formally and to enable enforcement.

That the Local Committee [Epsom & Ewell] agreed:

(i)    That Option 3: To retain a modified pedestrian crossing and allocate dedicated space to a pick up and drop off facility on the south side of Station Approach as shown on drawing No PC0326_10 and included as Annex C to the report, be approved.

(ii)   That subject to the Passenger Transport Group confirming that the bus stand is only required between Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm the Borough Council be asked to consider allocating this area as a Hackney Carriage rank outside of these times.

(iii)  That a new bus stand clearway be authorised.

(iv)  That the Area Team Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be authorised to advertise the appropriate legal notices relating to the new layout, to consider and objections, and if appropriate to confirm changes.

(v)   That the Area Team Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman and Divisional Member, be authorised to make slight modifications to the suggested layout, such as may arise out of the detailed design or drafting of legal notices.

Reasons: to allocate road space in Station approach following the completion of Epsom Station development.

The Area Highways Team Manager outlined the 3 options being presented to the Committee and the work that had been done by the Committee’s Working Group to draw these up.  The following points were made during the discussion:

·      Under option 3 the crossing at Waterloo Road would remain as it is currently.  There are no plans to remove it.

·      Hackney Carriages are only permitted to rank in a designated area so they would not be able to use other areas in Station Approach to wait, although they could pick up and drop off in them.

·      The pick up and drop off bays will be marked as parking bays and appropriately signed there will be no yellow lines.

·      Under options 1 and 2, if the Waterloo Road crossing were to be improved it would be a maximum of 4 metres wide.

·      It was suggested that the pedestrian route under Hudson House should be closed as it encourages anti-social behaviour in the area.  As this is a public right of way this would be difficult and statutory procedures would have to be followed.

·      It was suggested that outside of the 7am to 7pm required for the bus stand this area could be used as an additional taxi rank subject to the agreement of the Borough Council who are responsible for licensing Hackney Carriage provision.

·      Vehicles may legally stop on the yellow lines to load and unload providing they are not causing an obstruction, but may not wait.

·      The revised crossing proposed in option 3 would be continuous as is the current crossing, with no need for pedestrians to wait on the central refuge.

·      Mr Frost proposed that the 8m hackney carriage bay adjacent to the pick up and drop off area should be used for pick up and drop off as it is only big enough for one taxi.  He had no seconder  for this proposal.

·      Members raised concerns about buses stopping on the crossing when rail replacement  services are running.  This is illegal and enforcement action could be taken, but is likely to be less of a problem if the crossing is modified as they would be blocking the road if they stopped there.

On a vote it was

Resolved: (by 5 votes FOR to 3 AGAINST)

(i)    That Option 3: To retain a modified pedestrian crossing and allocate dedicated space to a pick up and drop off facility on the south side of Station Approach as shown on drawing No PC0326_10 and included as Annex C to the report, be approved.

(ii)   That subject to the Passenger Transport Group confirming that the bus stand is only required between Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm the Borough Council be asked to consider allocating this area as a Hackney Carriage rank outside of these times.

(iii)  That a new bus stand clearway be authorised.

(iv)  That the Area Team Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be authorised to advertise the appropriate legal notices relating to the new layout, to consider and objections, and if appropriate to confirm changes.

(v)   That the Area Team Manager, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman and Divisional Member, be authorised to make slight modifications to the suggested layout, such as may arise out of the detailed design or drafting of legal notices.

Reasons: to allocate road space in Station approach following the completion of Epsom Station development.