Portmore Park & District Residents Association
Supporting local heritage, quality of life and community
St George’s Junior School is extending an invitation to neighbouring residents to join an ‘Open House’ drop-in event between 6pm and 8pm on Thursday 28 September.
This will be a social and informational evening for our local community, open to all neighbours of the school. It will include an opportunity to learn more about the school’s parking plans, plus optional tours of the school site.
See the invitation above for more details.
Work is due to start on the Beales Lane St Catherine’s site in the week beginning 31st January, preparing for demolition of the old buildings. This is subject to acceptance by Elmbridge Borough Council that all preconditions have been met, including a comprehensive Construction Transport Management Plan (see below). We are happy to note that the landmark Yew Tree on the corner is being carefully protected.
The Planning Inspectorate allowed, on appeal, the high density development of 28 flats on the site, to be built in a style unlike anything else in the area. Elmbridge had refused consent for this very controversial development, following many objections from local residents: concillors concluded that the proposed building was out of keeping and would have a negative impact. PPDRA submitted a comprehensive objection to the proposals, summarsing local concerns, which received a response from the applicant.
There was huge disappointment locally at the appeal decision. The Planning Inspector came to a different conclusion from Elmbridge and allowed the development, despite acknowledging that the Elmbridge refusal was a reasonable judgement call and soundly based in planning law. It seems that good local planning decisions are increasingy being overturned on appeal by the central planning inspectorate.
Local residents are now especially concerned about retaining access to their homes while this major new development takes shape — Beales Lane is very narrow and is the sole vehicle access for around 40 homes — and the way it will add to local parking stress.
PPDRA has been in continuing contact with the developers to share local concerns about the need to moderate the negative impact of constuction work.
The Planning Inspector included a detailed condition around construction transport:
Extract from Appeal Decision APP/K3605/W/19/3237800
SCHEDULE OF CONDITIONS
…
5) No development including groundworks and demolition shall commence until a Construction Transport Management Plan (CTMP) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.
The CTMP shall include details of:
(a) parking for vehicles of site personnel, operatives and visitors;
(b) loading and unloading of plant and materials;
(c) storage of plant and materials;
(d) programme of works (including measures for traffic management);
(e) provision of boundary hoarding behind any visibility zones;
(f) HGV deliveries and hours of operation;
(g) vehicle routing;
(h) measures to prevent the deposit of materials on the highway;
(i) before and after construction condition surveys of the highway and a commitment to fund the repair of any damage caused;
(j) no HGV movements to or from the site shall take place between the hours of 07:45 and 9.15 am and 15:00 and 17:30, nor shall the contractor permit any HGVs associated with the development at the site to be laid up, waiting, in local residential roads during these times; and
(k) on-site turning for construction vehicles.
Thereafter the approved development shall be undertaken in accordance with the approved CTMP.
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:
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
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
Residents have mixed views about a planning application to build four terraced houses on the site of 22 lock up garages in Grenside Road (EBC 2020/3495). While new homes would be welcome, and would look much smarter than the current garages, the resulting loss of parking spaces for local residents is a serious worry.
Unfortunately, the application seems misleading about parking – it claims there are ZERO spaces at present (where even the application’s own photos show parked cars) and that it would be creating four additional parking spaces: ‘Existing spaces 0, Proposed spaces 4’. In reality, it would be taking away spaces used by current residents, and giving some of them to the new homes.
The application’s Transport Technical Note explains that ‘the garage site is within private ownership therefore cannot be relied upon for off-street car parking’. It does not mention the currently used parking spaces on the access road, where the ‘new’ spaces are proposed. Strangely, it even gets the site location wrong – it shows the development site covering part of the Broadwater Path and a large patch of St George’s Junior School land.
What is needed is some coordinated action to ensure Grenside Road residents have somewhere to park – for example, on-street in Grenside Road, where currently places are taken by heavy school-related parking during termtime. If suitable controls can be brought in, then residents may even welcome the addition of smart new homes.
The challenge is that while planning consent is given by Elmbridge Borough Council, on-street parking controls are decided by Surrey County Council. Yet Surrey have repeatedly refused to acknowledge that the parking issues (and traffic issues) in Grenside Road are serious enough to require effective action – despite evidence like the photos accompanying this article.
PPDRA strongly supports residents’ attempts to get the parking issues looked at again, in the light of this planning application.
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:
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 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.
Work is sometimes delayed by bad weather. Surrey Highways will keep residents updated on any changes via the advance warning signs.
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.
There will be some noise but Surrey Highways say they will try to keep this to a minimum.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Visitor parking being used by school parents for child collection; note narrow roadway
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
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
Is your road used by rat run traffic? Are there parking issues in your road? Or is everything fine as it is?
PPDRA is gathering information about traffic and parking in our residential roads, and how they affect residents.
It is quite comprehensive online survey, so please set aside ten or 15 minutes, less if you are speedy
(you can skip questions if they are not relevant to you).
Click here to start our local Traffic & Parking survey online
Your experience of traffic and parking in your road can help inform future local Council decisions.
All personal information will be kept confidential, and any reports will not identify individuals.
You can view our Privacy policy here.
Online completion of the survey is preferred, as the results are automatically calculated.
If you need a paper version, you can download a pdf copy of the survey to print out, or phone 01932 844449 and request a copy (NB it looks long on paper, with spacious layout!)
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.
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
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
The impact of traffic is serious
Parking problems have more causes
The impact of parking varies
Top priorities for PPDRA (discussed extensively over the past ten years: see previous postings), are that parking restrictions and provision:
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.
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.
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”.
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).
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
In summary, PPDRA, rather than proposing specific parking solutions, seeks to
At its heart, our position is that any strategic parking solution must reflect the differing needs of different roads.
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.
Traffic and parking issues vary from road to road:
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
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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.