Cranleigh High Street needs Surrey County Council to carry out repairs

It is essential that Cranleigh people get involved in responding to the latest consultation – please click here and have your say.

Cranleigh High Street has multiple owners – each shop or business owns and is responsible for maintaining a frontage. Between their frontages and the road Surrey County Council has responsibilities to maintain the drainage and pavements. They maintain and control the roads including where people can park, cross the road, and the issues of drainage and kerb clearance.

Waverley Borough Council charges developer contributions on new building developments

Over the years Governments have put in place requirements for developers to contribute, so that extra demands on infrastructure can be partially paid for. Named Section 106 (S106) in the past, and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The way that these contributions are decided upon, then gathered in, are complicated. The biggest point is that Councillors are required to apply for these funds, on behalf of the area – Cranleigh – at the time developers gain planning permission. After which the money becomes chargeable when the housing is being lived in dwelling by dwelling.

Councillors apply for S106 and CIL money on behalf of the people of the village

Years ago, around 2015/2016, when different councillors were in place, decisions were made about money needed for Cranleigh projects, to be paid for by developers in due course. At the time many parts of Cranleigh High Street, particularly pavements, were in poor repair so this became a priority.

How could the streets have better and safer surfaces, better drainage, and restrict illegal and dangerous parking behaviours? Arrangements were made and agreed upon. Then those agreements were delayed until the time is right to charge the money and spend it.

Emergency Climate Action

In July 2019 Surrey County Council declared a climate emergency, and set out ambitions to create a carbon neutral County by 2050. The council is responsible for housing, council buildings, schools, libraries, roads and to some extent, people’s behaviour when moving around the county. Waverley Borough Council also declared a similar set of targets.

Central Government Climate Action Grants

In the year 2000 the then Government declared that Climate change is genuine and a clear and present danger to health and prosperity across the world and Britain. Henceforward all Councils were to plan for lowering carbon emissions wherever possible. Some grants became available from central Government.

Cranleigh High Street proposed changes

With money put by to improve Cranleigh High Street Surrey County Council (SCC) set about designing improvements to meet all the needs – safer for walking, places to stop and rest, encouraging people to walk and cycle to the village, and linger in the High Street longer. Looking at traffic movements and illegal parking their team looked at ways to improve the environment for all. A main aim is to reduce traffic. please click here and have your say

SCC Consultants, Officers and Councillors will take the public consultations into account when making decisions.

The changes proposed

Based on feedback from previous engagement events, especially from Cranleigh Society team, they have changed the High Street proposals. 

The main proposed changes are:

  • not making any changes to the mini roundabout at Village Way
  • not be removing the pedestrian islands along the High Street, improve pedestrian crossings whilst ensuring pedestrian islands remain where they are needed
  • making safety improvements at Knowle Lane Junction
  • Improved pedestrian crossing points
  • The themes are:
  • Improvements to Knowle Lane junction
  • Post Office entrance and pedestrian crossing
  • Pavements and on-street parking
  • Public transport and supporting walking and cycling

They hope they will improve the pavements. Improve the drainage at crossing points. Keep the mini roundabout near the Village Hall. Keep the slip road in front of the Post office but improve the area.

Help tackle flooding and support the physical and mental well-being of residents by making it easier for people to walk, cycle or use public transport to get into the village centre when able to.

The existing bus laybys will be retained in their original positions. They propose to reduce their width slightly to deter illegal parking in the bus laybys and increase the width of the pavement around the bus laybys. Two large vehicles must be able to pass along the High Street when a bus is in the layby. SCC consultation:

A new replacement bus shelter will be installed on Fountain Square along with additional cycle parking facilities. This bus shelter will have real time information – live updates for when the next bus is due.

They would also like to install a new bus shelter outside the library, to allow passengers waiting for a bus to be sheltered from the weather.

Possibly create raised platforms where there are pedestrian islands – have your say.

Knowle Lane – narrow the High Street and introduce low planted strips to deter parking on the corners: per SCC consultation:

  • Changing kerb lines to help reduce vehicle speeds at the junction
  • Widening the pavement slightly at the junction to improve visibility for both drivers and pedestrians and making the junction safer
  • To introduce low level, low maintenance planting to deter illegal parking on the corner
  • To improve the existing raised pedestrian area

Parking problems along Cranleigh High Street

They are trying to address all the tiny changes that could make it more difficult to park illegally: SCC consultation:

They are proposing five options for the public to choose from:

  • Option 1: The parking outside WHSmith to be changed into a layby style parking, to deter illegal parking and blocking off access by the pedestrian crossing island.
  • Option 2: Widening the pavement along the High Street by narrowing certain parts of the road, ensuring that two large vehicles will still be able to pass each other safely.
  • Option 3: Introducing timed loading bays. They suggest the positions to be, outside of the Fish & Chip shop and Marks and Spencer.
  • Option 4: Introducing a timed no loading zone, from Village Way to Marks and Spencer Foodhall, at peak hours.
  • Option 5: Remove one parking bay outside the Fish & Chip shop, to create a wider pavement area on the corner of Cranleigh Pharmacy. This is planned to help with accessibility for people with mobility issues or with buggies.

Many of these issues are highly controversial, with many people expressing opposition. If you feel strongly please register your views click here and have your say.

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