Surrey County Council has a new fleet of gritters equipped with the latest technology ready to keep motorists moving in severe winter weather.

The 24 new vehicles, provided by the new highways contractor, are ready to hit the road as part of the council’s pool of 40-plus gritters loaded with some of the 17,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled at depots across Surrey.

Each is equipped with a device to monitor gritting throughout Surrey on a minute-by-minute basis.

In addition, the trucks are fitted with technology that involves using a brine solution on the salt to help it work quicker on roads.

An extra 110 miles of road will be regularly treated this winter. This equals nearly 5,300 extra miles of gritting runs across an average winter.

Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment Ian Lake said:

“We’ve been planning for months to help keep Surrey’s road network moving in ice and snow. Our salt barns are full, we have new gritters equipped with the latest technology and they’re ready to hit the roads in bad weather.

“Our gritting teams do great work to keep Surrey moving in bad weather and they often work through the night. However, our gritters can’t cover every road, which is why it’s important residents use grit bins to treat their
local roads and pavements for the benefit of the community.”

The gritting operation is part of a range of measures to tackle severe weather this winter. Surrey’s 17,000-tonne stockpile of salt is 4,000 more than last year.

Fifteen more farmers with ploughs have also joined the snow-clearing operation to take the total to 50.

And, as noted in our recent update from the Local Committee the amount of grit available for borough and district councils to spread in town centres has been doubled to 40 tonnes each, and a number of local roads have been added to the gritting list or given increased priority on the list, for example Carlton Road.

The council has also launched a twitter feed in partnership with BBC Surrey to provide residents with updates on gritting activity, roadworks, road closures and traffic information. It can be found @surreytravel.

After pressure from local residents and Councillors, Carlton Road will be upgraded to a Priority 1 route during future cold weather spells, befitting its status as a bus route.

Other recent highways updates from Surrey County Council are listed below.

Road surface treatment

• Woodcrest Walk – due October 2011
• Upper Bridge Road – due October 2011
• Woodlands Road – due October 2011
• Elm Road – due April 2012

Road safety measures

• Pedestrian crossing on Queensway – due to be improved, funded by the adjacent Nobel House development
• Gatton Park Road – new pedestrian crossing at the end of Monson Road

Cold weather measures

• The following changes have been made to the roads on the gritting schedule (click here for the full schedule):

1. Brambletye Park Road – added to the Priority 3 list
2. Carlton Road – upgraded from Priority 2 to Priority 1
3. College Crescent – added to the Priority 3 list
4. Noke Drive – added to the Priority 3 list

• Grit bins will be refilled by the end of October, and again during the winter if required (although note that it is not feasible to restock them during a period of extreme weather).
• Statement of Understanding under which the County Council will provide the Borough Council with 40 tonnes of grit and hand spreading equipment, which will be used by Borough Council staff for gritting footpaths (eg by street sweeping staff who are unable to undertake their usual tasks).  Note that these staff have been used already in the past to grit footpaths, using a stock of grit kept by the Borough Council – the new arrangement means that a larger stock of grit will be guaranteed.
• The Council has signed up more local farmers to undertake snow clearance on some minor roads.
• What local residents can do in extreme weather:

1. Report any thefts of grit from grit bins to the non-emergency Police line (dial 101).  Grit in grit bins is for use only on the public highway, and grit taken from bins and used on private driveways reduces the amount available for public roads, and represents theft.
2. Undertake snow clearance outside their property (using a shovel but not hot water).  In response to fears of being subject to legal action, Surrey County Council has provided this reassurance:

“As with all actions taken by members of the public, people should act sensibly and consider the effect their actions might have on other highway users.  Provided any salting or snow clearance is carried out responsibly and without creating further hazards which could lead to a passer by injuring themselves, there there would not liability for such actions.”

Surrey County Council’s Cabinet today announced the first areas to be given 30 minutes free parking under plans to change the way on-street parking is managed.

The free parking provision is one of a series of changes to the original on-street parking proposals after the county council spent time listening to residents and businesses. Other changes include tailoring the maximum waiting time to suit each area, introducing new parking tariffs, and in some cases not introducing any parking charges at all.

With these changes in mind Surrey County Council’s Cabinet members last week agreed to proposals for on-street parking charges in Elmbridge and Reigate and Banstead. Members also emphasised the importance of the role local committees and borough and district councils have to play in helping to shape the changes.

Ian Lake, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

“We have spent a lot of time listening to the views of local people and businesses to ensure on-street parking is tailored to the needs of each community. This helped shape the policy and led to the provision of half-an-hour free parking which means people popping to their local shops for a pint of milk can do so without paying to park.

“We now have a series of changes to on-street parking which will provide better value for money for taxpayers and increase customer turnover for businesses by stopping people from blocking spaces all day. It will also reduce congestion by encouraging motorists to use car parks instead of driving around the streets looking for a roadside spot.”

On-street parking enforcement currently runs at a half-a-million loss at taxpayers’ expense. As well as helping businesses increase customer turnover, and reducing road congestion, the proposed changes will help cover the costs of parking enforcement, ending the taxpayer subsidy of on-street parking.

Full details on the proposals across Reigate & Banstead can be found on the SCC website.  The section relating to Redhill is reproduced in full below:

Redhill

What was proposed?

57. Parking charges were proposed for existing on street spaces around the town centre with an hourly charge of 60p or £1 per hour (30p/50p for 30 mins). There was no change to the current maximum stay of 1 or 2 hours.

Consultation Response

58. Five roads are proposed to have parking charges in or near Redhill Town Centre. There were two objections received about the proposed new parking controls in Redhill, with one of those specifically relating to the pay and display proposals on Brighton Road. There was concern that cars could be displaced into residential roads and particularly in Woodlands Road.

Analysis

59. Redhill Town Centre is the largest of Reigate and Banstead’s town centres in terms of retail frontage and is recognised as a major town centre by the Surrey retail hierarchy. Retail activity focuses around the main pedestrianised High Street which runs from north to south, together with a series of smaller shopping streets. It is not considered to need a free parking period around the town centre.

The introduction of a free period in either Redhill or Reigate but not the other could reduce the parity between these nearby towns.

60. The proposed charges in Redhill were set at the medium and low tariff to reflect the distance of the spaces from the town centre. There is no free parking in the town centre and a free on street period is not considered necessary. The proposed charge in Chapel Road was 60p per hour, however this location is in the town centre. A medium tariff of £1 per hour should be used here to maintain parity over the off street car parks.

61. A low tariff was proposed for short term parking spaces in Brighton Road south of the railway bridge and town centre. There are a range of small shops in this location and it is unlikely a visitor would park here to use the town centre. Consequently it is proposed to introduce a free 30 minute period (followed by the medium tariff) in this location. In addition the maximum parking time could be increased to cater for visitors to businesses that need more than 1 hour. This would bring it into line with recommendations by the Select Committee Parking Task Group for smaller shopping parades.

62.  The on street parking bays in London Road are proposed to have a two hour time limit. This could be extended to allow more convenient parking provision to visitors to local business and facilities. A long stay tariff of £5.50 could be introduced for parking over 5 hours to retain a differential over the off street car parks in addition to the current medium rate for short stay.

63. Parking displacement will be investigated as part of the review process, which would happen in 6-12 months time. Woodlands Road was an area of concern.

Recommendations for Redhill

64. Change the proposed tariff in Brighton Road from 60p per hour to a free 30 minutes followed by the medium tariff (£1 per hour), with a revised time limit of two hours and no return within one hour.

65. Change the tariff in Chapel Road from low to medium (£1 per hour), and change the no return period to one hour, to reflect other similar locations in Reigate and Banstead.

66. Provide a longer term tariff of £5.50 over 5 hours in London Road as well as the medium tariff (£1 per hour).

67. Review the on street tariff as part of the review process to maintain a differential over off street parking charges (which are subject to reasonably regular tariff changes).

Surrey County Council has just published the Surrey Transport Plan (the third Local Transport Plan) which is now also available on the Surrey County Council website.

This follows on from extensive consultation over the past year with the public, partners and interest groups. The plan was developed under the stewardship of the Transport for Surrey Partnership which brings together the key providers of Transport Services. The Surrey Transport Plan provides the policy framework to maintain, our highways which is our top priority, but also to improve transport networks, in particular where they contribute to growth and employment.

Unlike the previous LTP the strategy and policy documents are available on the web only. This allows for periodic updating within the plan period, but also reduces costs within a financially constrained environment. As strategies are reviewed and updated they will be added to the website, together with further detail about delivery schedules.

This LTP will seek to secure investment for transport infrastructure from a range of different sources. Working with our partners, we are confident that the new LTP will not only help to drive the economy and employment in Surrey, but play a pivotal role in improving the quality of life for all those who live and work within the County.

If you need any further information about our plan, please contact us on surreytransportplan@surreycc.gov.uk

Sections of Carlton Road and Frenches Road adjoining London Road will be shut temporarily from March to enable gas works.

A Traffic Order is due to come into effect to restrict traffic from entering part of Carlton Road, Redhill, and impose a temporary one-way restriction on part of Frenches Road, Redhill.  The Order will take effect from 14 March 2011 and remain in force for a period of nine months, though it is likely to be brought into operation for no more than six weeks.

A copy of the Public Notice which will appear in the local press this week can be viewed here:  Frenches Rd Notice

A plan indicating the diversion route for traffic can be viewed here:  Frenches Road & Carlton Road Diversion Map

Following LOCOG’s* announcement on Thursday 10 February 2011, that the men’s and women’s Olympic cycle road races for the London 2012 Games will take place in Surrey, and pass through the borough, Councillor Adam De Save, Executive Member for Leisure and Wellbeing said:

“This is great news and such a fantastic opportunity to be able to welcome such a prestigious event as the London 2012 Olympics to Reigate and Banstead.

“The events will provide a huge boost to the economy and focus the eyes of the world on Surrey during the opening weekend of the Olympic Games in July 2012. It is also a once in a lifetime opportunity for residents to be able to witness these events almost on their own doorstep.

“We will continue to work closely with Surrey County Council and other partners to ensure that this event is successful.”

Click map to enlarge

One million spectators are expected to line the route which will provide a huge boost to Surrey’s economy. Kent’s staging of a leg of the Tour De France in 2007 generated an estimated £40 million.

There are three business information events taking place in March to help local companies, big and small, make the most out of the 2012 Games coming to our area. The nearest is in Dorking on 22 March 2011. Booking is essential.

For more information on the cycle race and on how local businesses can make the most of the opportunities from the 2012 Olympic Games, visit www.surrey2012.info.

Southern Gas Networks has applied for road closure order on a length of Hooley Lane to enable them to replace gas mains; the closure request is for 8 weeks but the work is likely to take a shorter time than this.

Hooley Lane will be closed from its junction with Earlsbrook Road, through to its junction with St John’s Road, and access to Hooley Lane from Victoria Road and Redstone Road will also be closed off.  Diversion signs will be put up, directing through traffic via Earlsbrook Road and St John’s Road.

Surrey County Council leader Dr Andrew Povey has pledged £1 million towards improving the county’s roads in response to residents’ feedback.

Each of the 11 local committees will be asked how and where the extra money should be spent, enabling residents to influence what improvements are carried out in their communities.

Dr Povey said:

“It is clear that quality of roads is a prime concern for Surrey residents which is why I am pledging an extra £1 million towards improving them.

“Surrey’s roads are not up to the standard we want them to be at due to a lack of central government investment for more than a decade. This extra £1 million will not solve the problem but it will help and I hope it will show residents that we are serious about getting our roads up to scratch.”

Dr Povey pledged to continue the fight for more investment in Surrey’s roads. Earlier this month he tabled a motion at the Local Government Association’s annual conference in Bournemouth calling for more central government investment in highways.

He argued that national road investment should be concentrated in the South East to boost the regional economy and help businesses prosper. This would provide millions of pounds in extra tax revenue for the Government which could be reinvested elsewhere in the country.

Surrey County Council has published notices warning of closures of Carlton Road, covering the period from 4th June 2010 and lasting for 12 months.

The closures are to allow the resurfacing of the road to take place, currently scheduled to occur during the summer school holidays in order to minimise disruption.

The full resurfacing of the road is the most significant resurfacing project in the whole Borough this year, and has been achieved after a number of years of pressure from local residents, the Carlton Residents’ Association, and local Councillors.

County Councillor for Redhill, Lynne Hack, said:

“Getting Carlton Road fully resurfaced has been a priority for me for a number of years.  Given its length and the severe tightening of Surrey’s roads budgets it has not been easy, and it has taken a while to get it to the top of the Surrey wide priority list.  Therefore it is very good news that it is to be done this summer.

“Residents should not expect the road to be closed for 12 months as allowed in the closure order – it is standard practice for road closure orders to be for a duration of 12 months, in case there are delays later which would otherwise require new, expensive closure orders.  The work should take far less time than this, and access will be maintained to properties as far as possible.

As part of the standard process of road resurfacing, all utility companies have been notified by Surrey County Council that it will be resurfacing the road, giving them the opportunity to bring forward any scheduled utility works in Carlton Road to happen before the resurfacing takes place.  However utilities have the right not to take up this offer, and undertake some types of work (eg emergency work) after the resurfacing.

Residents with any queries relating to the road closure and resurfacing works should call Surrey County Council on 03456 009 009.

Surrey will receive a £1.5m share of the £100m “national pothole fund” announced by Alasdair Darling in the Budget, it has been revealed.

The funding will add to the extra money set aside by Surrey County Council earlier in the year to help deal with the effect of the freezing weather on local roads, but based on an estimate that it will cost £200m to get Surrey’s roads up to scratch, the funding will not go far.

Meanwhile, work is ongoing or due on a number of local roads:

• The long awaited resurfacing of Carlton Road is due to take place during the summer holidays, to avoid causing conflicts with traffic to St Bede’s school.  In the meantime Redhill’s councillors have been requested temporary patching of the numerous significant potholes which have appeared.
• Daneshill is still subject to ongoing gas works, after which the local water company is due to undertake works.  Once these are complete it is scheduled for a full carriageway reconstruction, which has long been an objective of local residents and councillors.
• Serious potholes in Linkfield Lane have been reported by many local residents, and the local councillors have been pressing the County Council for these to be patched.  Some patching work has been undertaken and more is due to happen.
• The lower section of Batts Hill is due for inspection and patching will hopefully result, after requests from local councillors.

A large part of the overall problem for Surrey is that its roads are so heavily used – for example Surrey’s A-roads carry an average of 22,000 vehicles per day, which is twice the national average.  This has not been allowed for in the sharing out of the “national pothole fund”, therefore areas with much quieter roads in better condition have received the same amount per mile of road as Surrey.

Further research also suggests that Surrey residents pay 50 times more in car tax, fuel duty and other road taxes and charges than Surrey receives back for road maintenance – around £700m is paid over, and £14m received in return.

Cllr Dr Lynne Hack, County Councillor for Redhill, commented:

“It has long been suspected that Surrey gets a rough deal in terms of government funding, not only for roads but for all services.  As a prosperous county we expect to pay a bit more in to the national pot than we get out, but these figures show just how skewed the system is against Surrey’s residents.

“We will keep pressing for fairer funding for Surrey and if the Conservatives are elected at the General Election they have promised to set up an independent body to review the fairness of funding from central government to local Councils and remove it from political influence.”

Surrey County Council is also making progress with its retendering of the road maintenance contract (announced here), which will put greater pressure on roads contractors to provide better value for money and undertake works in a more cost effective way, for example filling all potholes in a road in one go.

As highlighted in an earlier article, you can now report potholes using your iPhone, or through the SCC website.