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.

Four received.

The petitions and responses (which were provided to the petitioners) are attached to the minutes as Appendix A.

Petition 1 – Mr Owen Flaherty presented a petition of 133 signatures, asking for the adoption of service road leading to Audley, St Francis and Sunnydown School, Caterham.

The Chairman referred the Petitioner to the written response.

Mr Flaherty was in attendance and presented the petition. He raised concerns that this is a health and safety issue for the schools.  The schools have grown in size considerably since being built to accommodate the local population and so the road is being used more. 

Divisional Member Mr Orrick suggested that Section 106 monies could be used for this matter as the schools are expanding to meet the growing need of a larger population locally. 

Mr Hodge felt it important that the Headteachers and Governors of the school consider all the implications of the adoption of the road by SCC. In becoming a public highway all road users are able to use the road, not only those using the schools.

Members discussed that although De Stafford school had a separate entrance it is close by and may wish to join in to try and resolve access issues.

Mr Orrick offered to meet with the schools outside of the meeting to discuss a way forward on this matter.

Petition 2 – Mr Mark Salter was in attendance and presented a petition signed by 36 local residents to reduce the unrestricted speed limit on Westerham Road (A25).

Mr Salter advised the Committee that since submitting the petition an additional 41 signatures had been collected making the total 77.  The Petitioner thanked the Chairman for the response but asked if more could be done other than reducing to 50mph such as providing a crossing as there is currently no safe way to cross the road.

Divisional Member Mr Skellett confirmed that he would be supportive of the 50mph limit although has not looked at the detail.

Members felt that although supportive of the reduced speed limit they would have reservations in a pedestrian crossing as not enough usage to justify the cost.  Members agreed to look into this request in further detail.

Petition 3 – Mr Piers Clark was in attendance and presented a petition on behalf of resident in Grange Road, Caterham requesting parking restrictions.

The responding officer advised the petitioner that a proposal of yellow lines with gaps is due for consideration by the Committee as part of the parking item at the meeting,   The officer raised that parked cars do slow traffic and reduce speeds on a road, and by removing all parking on Grange road speeds are likely to increase.  A balance has to be found in this matter that removing parking on Grange Road would push the issue to another road.  The three hour time limit restrictions in Harestone Lane are to be removed and it is hoped that this will alleviate some parking issues.

The Divisional Member Mrs Marks felt that Network Rail, should have a responsibility to provide adequate parking for commuters and rail users. This matter must be addressed as an issue for a number of roads in the Caterham area.

Petition 4 – Mrs Rosemary Brown submitted a petition of 27 signatures requesting a stile be changed back to a kissing gate on footpath 21, Tatsfield.

Mrs Brown was not able to attend the meeting. The Divisional Member Mr Hodge supported the officer’s written response.