The A217 Reigate Road, with its increasingly fast and frequent traffic flow is difficult and dangerous to cross. It cuts through Sidlow, isolating village amenities to the east of the road. Many residents are therefore forced to give up on aspects of village life, or resort to making frequent short car journeys instead of walking, fearing for their own safety.
Even to road users, the +40 mph at which traffic flows makes the road with its reduced sight lines dangerous. There is severe risk of being rear-ended when turning left into Ironsbottom, and very limited visibility of the Reigate bound bus stop for bus drivers to see their customers, or following traffic to see a stopped bus.
From school children to the elderly; residents are put off, or entirely excluded from using village amenities due to the danger of crossing the road. The bus services, access to vote and the Earlswood lakes footpath for all locals; the church services for Emmanuel’s congregation, the meeting room for the W.I and other community groups, and the church’s events capacity for all residents; all these amenities risk being lost as the A217 Reigate Road continues to bar residents from accessing them.
As the council will be aware, a school child was killed attempting to cross the road on their way home some years ago. More recently a Reigate College student suffered severe head trauma and brain damage resulting in a need for lifelong care. Another accident on the bend of the A217 claimed the life of a young father.
Adding any kind of crossing and / or reducing the speed of the road near this junction would make a huge difference to so many people in and around Sidlow. Residents firmly believe that with the current 40 limit and lack of crossing provision, it is only a matter of time before another fatal accident occurs.
Started by: Helen Wilkinson
This ePetition runs from 01/07/2025 to 31/10/2025.
2 people have signed this ePetition.