Massive holes appearing all over the borough

Today I picked up that a huge hole in Christchurch Road has been reported to Surrey County Council. This is one of a growing number of very large holes which are appearing on all our roads. It won't come as a surprise that the roads which are badly affected are roads which have been subject to patching. Temple Road is a nightmare - Ridgeway has some very deep and Woodcote Road and Woodcote Green Road are also suffering.

Surrey County Council must instigate an urgent inspection of the roads in the borough and organise emergency repairs.

How difficult is it to find out how many salt bins are in the borough

With the roads, and particularly pavements, too treacherous to travel or walk on, the Lib Dems have been asking about the provision of salt bins in the area.  The enquiry started at the time of the cold snap last February and the need for salt bins was emphasised by the recent weather.  Anna Jones, Councillor for College Ward, has been asking the County Council about the provision of bins in the area.  It is a simple question - how many salt bins are in the borough and how does that compare with previous years.  Frustrated that Officers seem unable to tell her how many salt bins have been removed from the borough, she has resorted to a Freedom of Information Request.  Hard to believe that you need to resort to an FOI request to find out about salt bins - but sadly it is true.  So, watch this space!

Burgh Heath Road, Epsom

Lib Dem Councillor Anna Jones asked at the Surrey County Council Local Committee why the road had come off the list for major repairs.   Potholes are gain appearing in the road, as regular readers of Pothole Watch will know, this was an issue around the County election time.  Anna has received confirmation that the road is likely to have resurfacing done around the summer of this year - but she is calling for urgent action on the potholes which are large and dangerous.   Today we believe that one has been filled, but Anna will be chasing up the remainder.  

Ashley Road, Epsom

Lib Dem Councillor Anna Jones has reported potholes in the road on 23rd November 2009.   She is chasing the Council to get these filled as soon as possible.   Council Reference number:  62923409.

Street lights will not necessarily be repaired

Unlit street lights have overtaken potholes as the major complaint to the Council.

Surrey Highways are currently not repairing street lights except in the most urgent cases.  

According to Surrey County Council, this is because a new PFI street lighting contract is expected to start early next year, which will involve replacing 80% of the existing lamp columns, so they are not spending money on repairing columns that will be replaced.  

Damaged or street lighting columns, regulatory signs and bollards are still being dealt with, though sometimes just by disconnecting the power and chopping off the damaged part.  Routine replacement of bulbs is also still continuing.  Other works such as lantern replacements and straightening street lights that are leaning are being treated as low priority and not carried out - except on busy roads where there is a risk of road traffic collisions or in locations identified by the Police as "high crime areas".   

The new lights are expected to be more effective and cheaper to run.   They are also supposed to reduce "light pollution" and it should be possible to dim them late at night.   Above all they should register automatically in the control room when they need repair.  Installation is intended to be spread over a period of 5 years with the backlog of street lights needing repair being dealt with first,  so provided there is no hold-up in signing the new contract, we should see improvements before the autumn of 2010.    

However, in the meantime, we will see various lights going out over the borough during the winter period which will simply not be repaired.     

Hylands Road, Epsom

Lamp post no 4 is on during the day.  This problem has been reported to the Council.  Report reference no W69704.  

Chalk Lane 'at any time waiting restrictions'

On 14th September, at the Surrey County Council Local Committee (Epsom & Ewell), a report was presented on the objections received following the advertising of the Traffic Regulation Order for introducing at any time waiting restrictions in Chalk Lane, Epsom. 

Parking restrictions are required in order to carry out  footway improvement and protection works in Chalk Lane, which will prevent vehicles striking properties between Heather Lodge and No 14.  

Of the 62 objections received, 57 were from employees of Epsom General Hospital, who park in local streets whilst at work.   The remaining objections came from people living in the immediate area.  

Whilst the committee noted the objections, the upheld the Traffic Regulation Order and resolved to allow the proposed restrictions to be implemented and the associated works to be carried out.   

According to the report, the works will be implemented during the October half term school holidays (2009).  

Surrey County Council's lead officer is Steve Williamson and you can contact him on 08456 009 009, if you want to know anything further about the scheme or its implications.