Portmore Park & District Residents Association

Supporting local heritage, quality of life and community

WeyBetterWeybridge – Public Exhibition of Plans 20 May

On Friday 20 May residents will at last get an opportunity to view and discuss plans for Weybridge Hospital replacement, 2pm – 7pm at St James, following years of behind the scenes work by the WeyBetterWeybridge programme. Community facilities and road improvements are also on the agenda.

NHS, Surrey County Council and Elmbridge Borough Council representatives will be on hand to answer questions and listen to residents’ views, as will our local MP.

Surrey County Council announced the event on their website on 11 May.  Here is the full text of their announcement:

WeyBetter Weybridge public exhibition to update on plans to create a state-of-the-art community and health and wellbeing hub for local people

POSTED BY  ⋅ 

On Friday 20 May, Surrey County Council, North West Surrey Alliance, NHS Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group and Elmbridge Borough Council are hosting a public exhibition in St James Church, Weybridge. Dr Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge will also be in attendance to speak to residents.

The event is to share the work to date that has been undertaken on the re-development of community and health services in the area, along with a series of planned road improvements.

The town centre development includes plans to build a brand new health campus, and a planned redevelopment of the library to create a modern, purpose-built space that will be a vibrant hub for the local community for generations to come.

Residents of Weybridge and the surrounding area are invited to come along between 2-7pm to hear an update and get an idea of how the site could look, find out about the type of services that could be provided, have the opportunity to speak to key decision-makers and share their initial feedback.

Leader of Surrey County Council, Tim Oliver, said, “I’m delighted we’re able to host this event and present plans to local people for the renewal of their town and facilities. The WeyBetter Weybridge programme is a unique opportunity to deliver modern facilities across a range of services to meet the needs of residents now and into the future, ensuring no one is left behind.”

Jack Wagstaff, Place Leader for North West Surrey Health and Care Alliance said: “This event gives us the opportunity to update local people on the work that has been happening in collaboration with our partners to develop and modernise services in Weybridge.

“This is an exciting opportunity to deliver a brand new, first-class, health facility as part of a much wider vibrant community hub for local people and our staff.” The event will be held in the church from 2-7pm and people can visit at any time. If people are unable to attend the event itself, the information will be located in the library until the end of May and available online after the event <insert link>.

Local leaders will be at the event to talk to local people and hear their views. Leaders include:

  • Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council
  • Dr Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
  • Marie Snelling, Executive Director for Customer and Communities, Surrey County Council
  • Ian Smith, Designate Chair for the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board
  • Jack Wagstaff, Place Leader, North West Surrey Alliance

This event is an opportunity for us to share our progress to date on the planned transformation of the site and our early ideas on how the space could work and look. As the WeyBetter Weybridge programme develops, there will be plenty of opportunity for local people and partners to have their say to ensure the proposals meet the needs of local people and local communities.

<END>

WeyBetterWeybridge project reframed

The WeyBetterWeybridge project has resumed, and we are pleased to see it is consulting more local groups and residents. The reframed project brings together Surrey Heartlands CCG (NHS), Surrey County Council and Elmbridge Borough Council, to explore how to make the best use of the Weybridge Hospital and Weybridge Library sites to create something of lasting benefit to the local community.  You can read PPDRA comments for the project here.

A large Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) has been set up to help support the development of the program’s proposals. This includes a cross-section of local residents, and representatives of community groups including the Weybridge Society and PPDRA, local schools, churches, businesses, NHS and the councils.

The PPDRA comments in September drew on views from residents in Portmore Park & District, and in October the PPDRA Chair suggested a (unifying) vision for a successful outcome for WeyBetterWeybridge. Other visions are possible!

The underlying principles are important. The idea of more integrated community facilities is highly appealing, if they can be delivered:

  • without losing irreplaceable things which residents value, like public green open space
  • without increasing parking stress, and
  • without changing the character of Weybridge with overbearing buildings.

A previous radical option, publicised by HLM Architects on 21 March 2021, fell short on several counts. We are assured that the reframed project is taking a different approach.

We look forward to new proposals which the whole community can embrace, which will benefit Weybridge residents long into the future.

WeyBetterWeybridge – PPDRA comments

Imagine breathing life back into Weybridge town centre, with better coordinated community facilities, enriched by our green open spaces…  The WeyBetterWeybridge project is looking to do just that, in the redevelopment of the Weybridge Hospital site and the library site.

PPDRA has provided comments to the project, from residents in the Portmore Park area, on what would help make it a success.

For the project to succeed, we see it as imperative that:

  • Community use of both sites is retained and enhanced for people of all ages
    • with increased youth provision and facilities for young people
  • Better linkage is achieved between the sites
    • with pedestrians’ needs put ahead of passing motorists.
  • The massing of buildings is harmonious with the setting
    • remain close to Church Street on the South (library) site
    • allow the open space behind to stay sheltered from road traffic noise and pollution.
  • All the green space and tranquility of Churchfields is retained and safeguarded
    • the open view of St James’ Church from Churchfields is conserved
    • the togetherness of park, allotments and church respected.
  • The green space between the North site and Portmore Park Road is safeguarded.
  • Facilities are multi-functional and flexible
    • maximise use and differing needs across age groups
    • make available for extended hours
  • Car parking provision is sufficient, but not intrusive or dominant
    • e.g. with undercroft parking on the North (hospital) site

We understand that the project is considering multiple possibilities. We want to see community facilities on these town centre sites, and not to lose them to other purposes, such as high density housing or commerce.  And we want to ensure our green open spaces are not lost or diminished.

View to St James’ Church from Churchfields Recreation Ground (across Churchfields Car Park), Easter 2021

  • It is key to retain the natural open views from Churchfields park, towards the Church and allotments
    • building in the southern two thirds of the car park would have an overbearing and negative impact on the open character of Curchfields park and allotments
  • Any new buildings on the South site should extend no further south than the office building adjacent to the entrance to Churchfields car park
  • New building on the Church Street library site should fit with our characteristic Weybridge town centre gabled street scene
  • New build on the North site could cover most of the hospital site
    • incorporating extensive undercroft parking
  • There would be strong opposition to a tower block or excessive height
  • The North site can benefit from a green and tranquil aspect across the Youth Centre field.

PPDRA’s comments for weybetterweybridge share local residents’ thinking on facilities needed, young people’s needs, linking the sites, traffic, parking issues, nearby town centre improvements, and more.

You can download a copy of our full PPDRA comments for weybetterweybridge here

 

Wey Road parking restrictions proposed

A controlled parking zone (CPZ) is proposed in Wey Road and Round Oak Road, “to increase space for short stay visitors to Weybridge by discouraging all day parking by non-residents in these roads”.  Surrey is inviting comments on the proposals by 2 October 2020.

Surrey County Council has put forward these proposals as a late addition to the previously drafted Weybridge parking review, in what we understand is an exceptional move in response to a request from residents in these roads.

We have heard very diverging comments on the proposals from local residents, and will make a summary of these available online.

Details of the Wey Road and Round Oak Road CPZ proposals are available on the Surrey County Council website, with the statement of reasons being the primary document, and the weybridge parking review drawings showing what is described in the statement of reasons.

If you would like to object, support, or comment on the proposals, you must do so by 2 October 2020, by either:

UPDATE – SCC Elmbridge Parking Review January 2021 findings and decisions

Wey Road, Round Oak Road

Overview:
  • Objections: 140
  • Other comments: 6
  • Support: 24
  • Final decision: do not proceed.
Analysis summary
  • 11 objections (58%) and 8 comments in support (42%) from Round Oak Road residents
  • 29 objections (66%), 12 comments in support (27%) and 3 other comments (7%) from Wey Road residents
  • 76 out of 79 responses (96%) from outside of the two proposals roads were objections
Conclusion

Given that the analysis shows residents to be against the scheme and would be even if considerable amendments were made to it, and that non-residents were vehemently against the proposals, we have decided not to proceed with any changes to parking in Wey Road and Round Oak Road at the current time.

 

Portmore Park Road closure for repair during school holiday

Portmore Park Road is to get a better surface.  THE WORK HAS NOW BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR THE SCHOOL HOLIDAY
It will be closed between Thames Street and Balfour Road on five days for Surrey Highways to carry out resurfacing works.

** UPDATE 8 AUGUST – RESURFACING WORK DONE! **

New start date 5 August: Postponed from 16 July 2019, to avoid a clash with the last week of school term.
Parents need car access to St Charles Borromeo in the last week of term to collect children’s possessions. Surrey County Councillor Tim Oliver has been extremely helpful in getting the road closure date changed to accommodate school access.
RESURFACING NOW DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAY.
Duration: 5 days (Monday – Friday only), road closed from 9.30am – 4pm.

Look out for advance warning signs on site for any date changes or check www.roadworks.org and @ElmbridgeLC on Twitter.

Surrey Highways say they will make sure people can get to and from their house or business when it is safe to do so. Please talk to a member of Surrey Highways staff on site if you need help – they say “talking to our staff can solve most issues”.

The full length of Portmore Park Road will need to be closed to complete the areas of resurfacing.

Surrey Highways have been given extra funding to repair roads which have suffered damage due to bad weather. The money has been used to form a programme of works called the ‘Severe weather recovery programme’ which we are delivering as quickly as possible to try to bring the worst affected roads in Surrey up to an acceptable standard.

More information is available at www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport.

Surrey are giving residents as much notice as they can, but as the programme is moving quickly are not always able to give as much warning as we would like.

Delays in work

Work is sometimes delayed by bad weather. Surrey Highways will keep residents updated on any changes via the advance warning signs.

Parking

It is essential to keep the road free from parked vehicles. Please park somewhere else otherwise your vehicle may be towed away to a nearby road.

Noise

There will be some noise but Surrey Highways say they will try to keep this to a minimum.

St Catherine’s Beales Lane refusal confirmed

Refusal has now been confirmed of plans for a huge block on the St Catherine’s site, Beales Lane (2019/0386), but with two changes to the reasons.  The plans were initially refused by Elmbridge Planning Sub-committee on 20 May because of the harmful impact of height and massing on the character of the area, access and manoeuvring issues, and loss of trees and soft landscaping.

The application was referred back to the Sub-committee to consider an additional pre-identified issue, missing legal agreement for affordable housing.  At the 17 June meeting, that new reason was added, but the access and manoeuvring issues were removed as a reason following new advice from Surrey Highways.

Residents are disappointed that Surrey had no objection to the traffic and parking issues the plans would have created, with lack of adequate turning space on site, and delivery vehicles having to reverse out of Beales Lane into Thames Street.  However there was great relief that Elmbridge recognised the unacceptably oppressive impact of such a massive building close to the the road, where at present the low building is set back and softened by grass and trees.

Here is the 17th June decision:

Elmbridge Borough Council  Meeting of South Area Planning Sub-Committee, Monday, 17th June, 2019

2019/0386 – St Catherines, Thames Street, Weybridge

Minutes:

One late letter of objection had been received.

The Sub-Committee Members resolved to refuse the application at the meeting held on 20 May 2019 for three reasons. Whilst the legal agreement securing the affordable housing contribution had not been received, the reasons for refusal had not included the lack of the affordable housing contribution as one of them.

Accordingly, during the introduction of the application, the Special Projects Officer advised the Sub-Committee that as the legal agreement had not been received, an additional reason for refusal needed to be included. The Sub-Committee agreed to add this reason for refusal.

Furthermore, the Special Projects Officer provided an update on the verbal advice received from the Highways Authority regarding the layout of the access and parking area on the development site, which had been included in the original reasons for refusal of this application at the Sub-Committee meeting on 20 May 2019.  Given that there were concerns as to whether this reason was sufficiently robust, the Special Projects Officer sought a formal view from the Sub-Committee as to whether it wished to continue with this reason for refusal.  In light of the update and having considered the information provided by the Special Projects Officer, the Sub-Committee were supportive of the removal of this reason for refusal.  Accordingly, the Sub-Committee resolved to

Refuse permission, contrary to the Officer’s recommendation, for the following reasons

   Confirm Reason from the Sub-Committee decision 20 May 2019

  1. Due to its height and massing, the proposed development would be out of keeping with the character of the surrounding area. The proposal is therefore contrary to the requirements of Policy CS17 of the Elmbridge Core Strategy 2011 and Policy DM2 of the Elmbridge Development Management Plan 2015.

Confirm Reason from the Sub-Committee decision 20 May 2019

  1. Due to the loss of trees and green spaces around the building, which are considered to provide high landscape contribution towards the character of the area, the proposal fails to enhance and integrate into its surroundings. As such, the proposal is contrary to Policy DM6 of the Elmbridge Development Management Plan 2015.

        [Previously listed as Reason 3. of the decision of the Sub-Committee made on 20 May 2019.]

Add Refusal Reason

  1. In the absence of a completed legal agreement, the proposed development fails to secure the necessary affordable housing provision contrary to the requirements of Policy CS21 of the Elmbridge Core Strategy 2011and the Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document 2012.

Remove Reason

  1. The layout of the access and parking area would result in hazardous manoeuvring due to the lack of turning point within the proposed rear parking area which would result in a need to reverse from the parking spaces to the under-croft access road in order to leave the site in forward gear. As such, the proposal is contrary to the requirements of Policy DM7 of the Elmbridge Development Management Plan 2015.

        [Previously listed as Reason 2. of the decision of the Sub-Committee made on 20 May 2019.]

Beales Lane plans cause concern for residents

Plans for a three storey block of 17 flats and 11 houses in Beales Lane, with 53 bedrooms, are being considered by Elmbridge Borough Council (application 2019/0386). Over 100 objections have been registered with Elmbridge.  Read our PPDRA letter here.

Bigger, higher, denser, closer to road

The new block would replace the existing St Catherine’s buildings (lacking merit but inconspicuous, total 27 bedrooms) with a significantly taller block, of more than twice the mass, with its bulk much closer to the road.

See the photo and plans above to get a feel for the proposed scale. It is 55% higher from ground to rooftop compared with present, towards the Thames St end.

The plans propose parking spaces for 28 cars behind the block, accessed via a height-limited entrance mid-building.
The style of the proposed building is quite unlike other properties in north Weybridge. Some residents feel strongly that it is wrong for the location.

Many are concerned about the excessive bulk, and negative impact of the proposed development on the streetscene, traffic and parking – that it would transform the character of Beales Lane, and not in a good way.

Open, light, green and small scale

Residents are worried that the character of Beales Lane will be lost.  Beales Lane is green and open towards its Thames Street end. The St Catherine’s buildings are low and mostly set well back. Their layout is staggered so it doesn’t impose.

The houses opposite are a traditionally styled 1998 development, in keeping with the character of Weybridge.

It is currently a pleasant suburban lane, leading to the historic small cottages of Church Walk.

The new building would present a much larger and more dominating profile along its length, and project closer to Thames Street.  It would be a massive difference.

The current St Catherine’s building as seen from Thames Street

The proposed building would be 55% higher, far wider and project much closer to Thames Street

Below we list some objections to the development plans, raised by local residents.

How to give Elmbridge your views

Comments to Elmbridge Borough Council are invited by 29 March, but will be accepted after that. The application will be decided by the South Area Planning Sub-committee.  To register your comments, search for 2019/0386 at www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning

It is helpful if objections are on grounds that relate to relevant planning legislation / relevant sections of EBC Local Plan. Below are relevant issues of worry to local residents. We list things that Elmbridge Borough Council must consider in deciding planning application 2019/0386:

  • Oppressive bulk and mass
    • The proposed development is EXCESSIVELY MASSIVE compared with neighbouring properties
    • It is taller, with its bulk closer to the pavement, and would dominate a road that is currently open and spacious
    • Its bulk and mass would be excessive for this suburban site.
    • Beales Lane leads to the historic riverside small scale cottages of Church Walk, the contrast is stark
  • Lack of fit with local streetscene
    • The proposed is quite unlike other buildings in the area, in appearance and style as well as scale
    • North Weybridge is characterised by Victorian/Edwardian dwellings with traditional roofs and lots of gables
    • The proposed vertical and rectangular lines might look fine as worker accommodation in Rotterdam, but don’t fit well here
    • It would have a very negative visual impact, transforming Beales Lane
      • from a light, open, airy road with chimneys the highest points & St Catherine’s largely set well back
      • to a visually narrower street dominated by a high, massive, alien building along its south edge
  • Excessive density
    (not a likely winner, given current pressure for increasing density, but worth arguing)

    • This is a much higher density than neighbouring dwellings
    • It squeezes a large volume of habitable space (11 new houses and 17 new flats, 53 bedrooms) onto the site
    • The floor area and number of bedrooms doubles
  • Loss of privacy
    • Neighbouring residents are concerned about loss of privacy, especially in their back gardens
  • Loss of light
    • Neighbouring residents are concerned that the proposed high building will block their light. Some question the measurements supplied in the application, for the height of windows opposite.

Visitor parking being used by school parents for child collection; note narrow roadway

  • Impact on safe traffic flow, safe delivery access, and safe manoeuvring, given lack of turning space
    This is a Surrey matter (so it is worth also writing to our SCC councillor, tim.oliver@surreycc.gov.uk, on this aspect). We are surprised that Surrey Highways has no objection
    to the prospect of large vehicles having to reverse out of Beales Lane into Thames Street (a road which Surrey’s own figures show carries around 5700 vehicles a day) right next to a school crossing:

    • Beales Lane is directly opposite the entrance to St George’s Junior School, so there are special safety factors
    • As sheltered elderly housing (27 bedrooms), there were previously very few residents’ vehicles associated with St Catherine’s
    • Beales Lane/Church Walk is a cul-de-sec with no turning circle
    • It gives resident and delivery access to circa 43 homes (apart from St Catherine’s)
    • Delivery and traffic flow would be greatly increased by 17 new flats and 11 new houses (53 bedrooms)
    • Currently the St Catherine’s visitor parking space is used for turning by delivery vehicles and visitors
    • It is heavily used at school drop-off/pick-up times (scores of vehicles using it to turn)
    • The proposed design would remove current turning facilities, and mean large vehicles having to reverse into Thames Street, which carries high traffic flows and has a school crossing adjacent to St Catherine’s; reversing vehicles would risk the safety of pedestrians including school children and obstruct traffic flow
    • The design does not allow headroom for vehicles higher than approx 2.5 metres to access the rear parking, so big delivery and removals vans would have to park up obstructing narrow Beales Lane
  • Impact on parking
    • 28 parking spaces are proposed to serve 28 dwellings  (9 x 1 bed; 13 x 2 bed; 6 x 3 bed)
    • 40.5 spaces would be required to meet Elmbridge Parking Standards:
      • Development Management Plan – Appendix 3: Elmbridge Parking Standards (DM21 – Access and Parking)
        1 bed residential unit : 1 space per unit
        2 bed residential unit : 1.5 spaces per unit
        3 bed residential unit : 2 spaces per unit

Learn more and register your comments

The number of people who comment is crucial to the future of Beales Lane and Church Walk.

Search for 2019/0386 at www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning.

Comments to Elmbridge BC are invited by 29 March, but will be accepted after that.  Use the comment form on the EBC website or email tplan@elmbridge.gov.uk.

The application will be considered by councillors on Elmbridge Borough Council South Area Planning Sub-committee.

If you feel it is important that they are all aware of your comments, you can email them directly:

Cllr Barry Cheyne (Chair)                            Oatlands and Burwood Park
Cllr Mrs Dorothy Mitchell (Vice Chair) Cobham and Downside
Cllr James Browne                                         Cobham and Downside
Cllr Andrew Burley                                          Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon
Cllr Oliver Chappell                                         Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon
Cllr Andrew Davis                                            Weybridge Riverside
Cllr Michael Freeman                                      Weybridge Riverside
Cllr Peter Harman                                            Weybridge St George’s Hill
Cllr David Lewis                                                 Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon
Cllr Mrs Charu Sood                                         Weybridge St George’s Hill

bcheyne@elmbridge.gov.uk; dmitchell@elmbridge.gov.uk; jbrowne@elmbridge.gov.uk; aburley@elmbridge.gov.uk; ochappell@elmbridge.gov.uk; adavis@elmbridge.gov.uk; mfreeman@elmbridge.gov.uk; pharman@elmbridge.gov.uk; dlewis@elmbridge.gov.uk; csood@elmbridge.gov.uk;

Traffic and parking issues are the responsibility of Surrey County Council, who will prepare a consultation report in relation to planning application EBC 2019/0386.

The Surrey County Councillor for Weybridge is Tim Oliver
tim.oliver@surreycc.gov.uk

You can download a pdf copy of our March 2019 newsletter about application 2019/0386 here

Flats or Flats & Houses?

Some residents are puzzled by the reference to 17 flats and 11 houses in the planning application, when the drawings appear to show a single large block of flats, arranged over three floors.

Below is an extract from the 2019/0386 Application Form

Grenside Road school parking

Traffic chaos in Grenside Road

Parking and turning on private land, obstructing residents

Residents of Grenside Road face school traffic and parking issues which need help from Surrey Highways.
Grenside Road is a cul de sac with no turning space, so things can get fraught when large numbers of parents park up on the pavement and neighbouring land, wait with engines running, then try to turn around and drive out.

The private access to residents’ parking spaces and lock up garages is often obstructed by parents parking and manoeuvring and trying to turn around to depart from Grenside Road.

 

The school’s use of the Grenside Road gates as a secondary entrance is in line with Surrey’s policy of multiple access points. But the road lacks the parking controls expected around a school entrance.  There are still no zigzags or special parking restrictions around this entrance, despite the optimistic comments made by an outgoing councillor, before last year’s Surrey County County local elections, about Surrey making safety improvements in Grenside Road.

St George’s Junior School is trying to make sure parents are considerate, but official parking restrictions from Surrey would allow traffic wardens to enforce better behaviour.  PPDRA will continue to draw this to the attention of the new County Councillor, Tim Oliver.  Action is needed to improve a situation residents find unacceptable.

Traffic and Parking – What do YOU want done?

Remember Surrey’s 2009 North Weybridge parking proposal? Many residents objected strongly, with good reason. It proposed CPZ restrictions that would have made life difficult in some roads. The plan was scrapped, and other roads that needed parking controls had to wait. Conclusion? CPZ proposals must be designed to meet the very different local needs of different roads.

2009 North Weybridge CPZ proposal - strongly rejected by residents

2009 North Weybridge CPZ proposal – strongly rejected by residents

Parking and traffic: problem twins…

Our part of Weybridge has traffic and parking issues which vary considerably from road to road.  We have several roads used as rat runs, three schools, roads where residents have no off-street parking and others with ample off-street parking.

Previous attempts at strategic parking solutions have failed because they ignored local residents’ differing needs. Can we do better now?

Traffic issues arise from the sheer number of drivers who want to use our local residential roads

  • As a rat run
  • Or for the school run
  • Plus some driving irresponsibly fast where possible

The impact of traffic is serious

  • Reduced safety for pedestrians and cyclists
  • Greater disturbance for residents from noise and fumes.

Parking problems have more causes

  • Limited on-street capacity, in roads where residents have no off-street parking and finding anywhere to park is a challenge
  • Short term school run parking obstructing driveways, pavements and junctions
  • Workers and visitors wanting free long-stay on-street parking
  • Shoppers wanting convenient free short-stay parking

The impact of parking varies

  • Massive and prolonged negative impact when residents are displaced from parking near their home
  • Short-term inconvenience and great annoyance when access is obstructed by school run parking at key times
  • Recurrent annoyance from seeing a road being used as a free car park
  • Positive effects when considerately parked cars reduce excessive traffic speed (natural traffic calming).

Local priorities

Top priorities for PPDRA (discussed extensively over the past ten years: see previous postings), are that parking restrictions and provision:

  • Reflect local needs, which vary from road to road
  • Draw on the views of residents in each road
  • Give highest priority to safety
  • Give very high priority to ensuring residents with no off-street parking can find somewhere nearby on-street to park (e.g. by local CPZ in badly affected roads)
  • Give special attention to school & school-run parking issues, and their impact on residents
  • Allow ample convenient short stay parking for shoppers
  • Allow all-day on-street visitor parking where appropriate
  • Are strategically coordinated across the area to reflect overall needs (without forcing ‘one-size fits all’ restrictions on residents)
  • Strategically relate on-street controls to off-street (public and private) parking capacity
  • Provide adequate affordable off-street capacity, without sacrificing the character of our townscape (i.e. avoiding visually intrusive multi-storey car parks or paving over public green spaces)
  • Don’t use strategic planning as an excuse for inaction: where there is an urgent need, action must be urgent.

Residents’ views matter

Here we give some more background on local issues for residents around traffic and parking, and their impact.

Local views on traffic are reasonably clear — most residents don’t want dangerous rat run traffic in their residential roads — but parking is more divisive.  One resident’s solution may be another resident’s problem.

PPDRA’s long held view on parking is that local residents are the people who know most about the parking needs and issues in their road and nearby. Residents are the people who have to live with the issues day after day, so their views should be heard.

Of course restrictions must be strategically coordinated across the area, but that must not disadvantage roads in urgent need.

Residents who have to rely on finding an on-street parking space have the greatest need — so PPDRA has long supported residents’ majority calls for controlled parking zones (CPZs) in roads like Elmgrove Road (given a residents-only CPZ) and Dorchester Road (still waiting).

Areas around schools also have particular needs. For example, we have been lobbying for safety improvements in Grotto Road and Grenside Road.

Wide area CPZ concerns

Currently it is suggested that a large area of Weybridge could be made a CPZ, perhaps with inner and outer zones (see the Weybridge Parking Project).  Some local residents — including most of the PPDRA committee — were worried by proposals in the original Parking Project report, because they seemed to ignore considerations that some residents feel are local priorities. Happily, the Weybridge Parking Project team appear to be evolving the proposals in response to concerns.

Impact on our area

One resident said, after reading the report, “I don’t want to see our town ringed by multi-storey car parks and dominated by yellow lines, clearing the way for faster rat run traffic”.  

Reduced capacity

Other residents (e.g. in Radnor and Glencoe) are aware that a CPZ in their road would significantly reduce their ability to find anywhere to park, because of all the additional yellow lines (see the 2009 plan above).

Previous proposals rejected

Reduced capacity, greater rat run danger and increased inconvenience were key reasons behind residents’ overwhelming rejection a proposed 2009 North Weybridge CPZ (see plan above).

The proposal to ban daytime parking on Portmore Park Road was especially unpopular. It would have encouraged rat run traffic, reduced parking options for residents of nearby roads, and caused problems for parents collecting children from St Charles Borromeo.

There were also worries of impact outside the proposed CPZ boundary, in Thames Street and beyond.

So what factors must be considered now, and what principles would bring the best outcome?   The Local Priorities listed above by PPDRA draw on years of input from local residents.

SHARE YOUR VIEWS AT OUR COMMUNITY MEETING & AGM ON 13 SEPTEMBER
7:30 for 8:00 pm at St Charles Borromeo school hall, Portmore Way, Weybridge

PPDRA position on parking

In summary, PPDRA, rather than proposing specific parking solutions, seeks to

  • listen to residents’ concerns about parking and traffic, which may vary from road to road
  • focus on the principles around parking and traffic that matter for our community
  • lobby Surrey and Elmbridge Councils to act in line with those principles, and find strategic solutions which are sensitive to the differing needs of different roads in north Weybridge

At its heart, our position is that any strategic parking solution must reflect the differing needs of different roads.

Problems vary across our area

Our part of north Weybridge has some very specific parking and traffic issues, which vary enormously across the area.

We have many attractive narrow fronted Edwardian and Victorian homes within walking distance of the town centre, busy schools, local businesses, tree-lined suburban boulevards with large houses, and traffic trying to avoid main road jams.

Diverse issues

Traffic and parking issues vary from road to road:

  • roads of narrow fronted homes with no off-street parking, where residents have problems finding anywhere to park
  • roads used as rat runs which would be dangerous without effective traffic calming
  • shoppers and visitors needing somewhere to park, and displacing residents
  • roads where school run traffic and parking dominate parts of each school day
  • workers seeking all day parking, and displacing residents

Strategic needs

Many residents have long believed that strategic action is needed, with the councils working together. Surrey County Council is responsible for controlling on-street parking, Elmbridge for off-street.

A strategic approach to parking and traffic issues will only succeed if it addresses the different issues facing different roads in north Weybridge. It must be sensitive to local priorities and the different needs of different roads.

Strategic solutions are difficult, which means they take time.  Hence many residents are disturbed at suggestions that urgently needed local changes should be put on hold pending an overall strategic solution.  It should perfectly possible to agree more immediate local changes, in line with an overall strategic vision, to relieve severe problems.

There is a cost to local residents in failing to meet their needs!

SHARE YOUR VIEWS AT OUR COMMUNITY MEETING & AGM ON 13 SEPTEMBER
7:30 for 8:00 pm at St Charles Borromeo school hall, Portmore Way, Weybridge

——————————————-

UPDATE 11 Sept 2018

We have added a further clarification from Pauline O’Sullivan on CPZ proposals from the Weybridge Parking Project, which illustrates how the Project is being responsive to local concerns.

Conserving Broadwater Lake

Broadwater Path opens the way to funding

Weybridge residents and visitors alike are enjoying lakeside walks along Broadwater Path, between Grenside Road and Cowey Sale. Its dedication as a public footpath and its new crushed stone surface give year round access to the lakeside – a beautful, tranquil, historic local feature, rich with wildlife.

What many don’t know is that the path is essential for the future of the lake itself.  Without formal public access, the lake would not qualify for the public funding needed to stop it silting up. Broadwater is a centuries old man made lake, which requires maintenance.

Without dredging, the lake silts and becomes marshland, growing rushes then self-seeded trees. In the 14 years that residents (including PPDRA) pressed for the path, silting got worse at the Greenlands Road end. The middle length also silted badly, until residents raised funds to dredge.

Last year Elmbridge BC contributed a CIL grant, which helped fund some urgent dredging. The Broadwater Conservation Society is now seeking public funding from national sources, and wider local support.

This historic lake is an important part of local heritage. So PPDRA proposes to become affiliated to the Broadwater Conservation Society.  To be voted on at our AGM on 13 September.

Broadwater Lake and Path, August 2018