Agenda item

Most rural roads in the south and southwest of Surrey are still subject to the national speed limit of 60mph. The 60mph speed limit is inappropriate for these rural roads. The Drive SMART Road Safety Partnership have agreed to provide £100,000 funding which will be supplemented by additional funding for road safety from Surrey County Council to review and implement lower speed limits on rural roads in the south of Surrey in a proactive, strategic, area wide basis. This report presents proposals for a reduction in speed limits across a wide area of the south of rural Surrey and seeks agreement from the committee to proceed. If the lower speed limits result in successful reductions in speeds, this will reduce the number and severity of road collisions, support active travel, improve air quality, and could also help address concerns over excessive vehicle noise.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed that:

(i)      The speed limits be reduced on the roads as shown in Appendix B that are in the Mole Valley Local Committee area. (Other roads within the Guildford and Waverley areas are also shown for information and are being presented to the Local/Joint Committees for those areas for approval separately).

(ii)      Authorise 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, revoke any existing traffic orders necessary to implement the change, and, subject to no objections being upheld, that the order be made.

(iii)     Note that after 1 April the Highways Engagement and Commissioning Manager will be responsible for resolving any objections received in connection with the proposal in consultation with the relevant Divisional Member.

(iv)    Note that if the reductions in speed limit have not been successful, then further supporting highway measures or a higher speed limit may be necessary.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

Reducing the speed limit on these roads will help to manage vehicle speeds to a level more appropriate to the use of road and will reduce the risk and severity of collisions. Lower speeds can also reduce air and noise pollution, and make it safer, easier and more pleasant to walk, cycle and ride horses.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officer attending: Duncan Knox, Road Safety and Sustainable School Transport Team Manager

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Key points from discussion:

·         Members welcomed the report.

• Brexhall Green Road, South Holmwood is shown as 60 and it was asked if the speed limit should be lowered. The Road Safety and Sustainable School Transport Team Manager confirmed it had been looked at and not included in this review. The adjacent residential housing estate would need to be included and it was not considered part of the rural speed limit review. The local divisional member agreed to look at commissioning work to look at the speed limit.
• A member asked if apart from local divisional members pursuing things were there any plans to extend the review. The Road Safety and Sustainable School Transport Team Manager confirmed there were plans to extend in Waverley and Guildford and it could be easily extended to other parts of Surrey where the national speed limit is no longer appropriate. It is possible local divisional members can also promote schemes on country lanes with future funding.
• A member asked about accidents on these roads and what prevention rates would be. The Road Safety and Sustainable School Transport Team Manager confirmed all the collisions have not been collated on all the roads but there would be before and after analysis of collisions and speeds and the speed surveys will be repeated.
• A member asked if air quality will be monitored. The Road Safety and Sustainable School Transport Team Manager said there were no plans to monitor but he will find out if there are any monitoring stations in that area.
• A member asked if there was going to be more signage, how much enforcement and any use of average speed and static cameras. The Road Safety and Sustainable School Transport Team Manager confirmed there would be more signage. SCC’s speed limit policy has been used so additional enforcement should not be necessary. However, if there is poor compliance the police would expect SCC to put in engineering measures. Soon the location of new average speed cameras will be made public. These will be at the worst collision hot spots where speeding is an issue.

Resolved:

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed that:

(i)      The speed limits be reduced on the roads as shown in Appendix B that are in the Mole Valley Local Committee area. (Other roads within the Guildford and Waverley areas are also shown for information and are being presented to the Local/Joint Committees for those areas for approval separately).

(ii)      Authorise 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, revoke any existing traffic orders necessary to implement the change, and, subject to no objections being upheld, that the order be made.

(iii)     Note that after 1 April the Highways Engagement and Commissioning Manager will be responsible for resolving any objections received in connection with the proposal in consultation with the relevant Divisional Member.

(iv)    Note that if the reductions in speed limit have not been successful, then further supporting highway measures or a higher speed limit may be necessary.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

Reducing the speed limit on these roads will help to manage vehicle speeds to a level more appropriate to the use of road and will reduce the risk and severity of collisions. Lower speeds can also reduce air and noise pollution, and make it safer, easier and more pleasant to walk, cycle and ride horses.