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.

One petition has been received:

Provide Pegasus Crossing- Arbrook to Esher Common (across the A244)

Lead petitioner: Nicola Foster                            Signatures: 1616

That the Local Committee [Elmbridge] agreed to:

(i)         Promote the requested Pegasus crossing scheme as part of Committee’s 2021-22 programme of feasibility / design work;

(ii)        Delegate authority to the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and affected Divisional Members to consider whether a scheme that is already part of Committee’s 2021-22 programme of work should be deferred;

(iii)      Agree that an application for CIL be made to Elmbridge Borough Council’s Local CIL Board for Esher for £40k in the 2021 application round.

(iv)   Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the requested scheme.

Reasons:  To take forward this project in response to the petition.

Declarations of Interest: Tim Oliver declared an interest as a resident of a road close to the site of the proposed crossing

Officers attending: Nick Healey, Area Highways Manager

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements:

The petitioner was unable to be present at the meeting and was represented by Allison Galaun who presented the petition on her behalf.   She indicated that the petition has a considerably number of signatures as well as written support from a number of relevant organisations and individuals.  The A244 is a very busy road with cars travelling at high speed, it is becoming increasingly dangerous to cross and there is no safe crossing point for the many users of this area.  Arbrook and Esher commons are well used green spaces and the addition of a crossing can only benefit the local community.

Member discussion –key points

The Area Highways Manager outlined that the scheme can be prioritised for the previous design work in this area to be updated if the Committee is in agreement.  However, for the work to be undertaken in the coming financial year another scheme would need to be deferred to provide capacity for the work.  Any scheme deferred could be taken forward in the following year.

The Chairman who is the divisional member indicated his support for the installation of a crossing as are the ward members of the Borough Council.  Many members indicated their support for the project and their wish that it can be taken forward without delay.  It was hoped that this may also help to reduce some of the traffic speeds.  It is also a chance to link these areas together to allow greater use by all.

The Area Highways Manager indicated that the total cost of the project would be in the region of between £125-£150K.  To complete the project the design would need to be refreshed and the Borough Council would need to give agreement to using land on the commons to provide a corralling/approach area adjacent to the crossing.  This is not expected to be an issue, but it was unlikely that work would begin until late 2021/22 or early 2022/2023.  As part of the design work traffic survey data will be undertaken, if it is found that the speed limit is being exceeded significantly consideration may need to be given to traffic calming measures.

Members agreed that whilst this scheme would be added to the 2021-22 work programme it would need to compete with existing projects for prioritisation and there was no guarantee that it would proceed in this year.  Further discussion on prioritisation would take place at a later date.

Resolved to:

(i)         Promote the requested Pegasus crossing scheme as part of Committee’s 2021-22 programme of feasibility / design work;

(ii)        Delegate authority to the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and affected Divisional Members to consider whether a scheme that is already part of Committee’s 2021-22 programme of work should be deferred;

(iii)      Agree that an application for CIL be made to Elmbridge Borough Council’s Local CIL Board for Esher for £40k in the 2021 application round.

(iv)      Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the requested scheme.

Reasons:  To take forward this project in response to the petition.