Campaign launched to reduce A25 lorry traffic through East Surrey villages
A CAMPAIGN to reduce lorry traffic has been launched by a group of villagers.
TAG-A25 has been set up by residents in Nutfield, Bletchingley and Godstone.
Their objective is to stop further lorry traffic on the A25 thundering through their villages.
They fear the number of heavy goods vehicles will increase following the approval of Surrey County Council's Minerals Plan in July, to allow further sand extraction at two sites in Nutfield and one in Bletchingley.
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During a meeting at The Whyte Harte Hotel in High Street, Bletchingley, last Wednesday, Keith Bouracier, of Nutfield Marsh Road, Nutfield, explained the objectives of TAG-A25.
He said: "The traffic issue is an accumulative and common problem to us all. This is welding together our efforts and views.
"We are challenging Surrey County Council with their rather casual acceptance of the fact that these roads are suitable for what they are proposing ."
With representatives from Nutfield Conservation Society, Godstone Village Association and the three villages' parish councils, the team is considering undertaking its own road surveys to analyse the current traffic movement, as well as lobbying the county council for action.
During the meeting, Peter Forbes, 63, of Braes Mead, Nutfield, said a reduction of the existing speed limit would perhaps limit the dangers posed by lorries.
He added: "These villages have narrow pavements often used by young mothers with toddlers and pushchairs which are very exposed by HGVs passing dangerously close to them.
"There are also elderly residents who find it difficult crossing such a busy road. The speed limit is currently 50mph between the villages and vehicles are often still travelling at over 40mph when they reach the 30mph limit. It would help if the existing 50mph limit was reduced to 40mph."
Felicity Gresser, chairman of Godstone Village Association, said she hoped they could achieve a way of re-routing the HGV traffic away from the three villages.
Mrs Gresser, 76, of Tilburstow Hill Road, Godstone, added: "Having TAG-A25 is essential, as we are stronger by working together and there is more opportunity then to bring ideas to the table."
The group also fears there is another risk of further HGV traffic from a proposed aggregates recycling plan.
This would involve stone aggregate being transported to and from the Copyhold site on the A25.
Anyone with particular concerns in connection with the increase in traffic volumes on the A25 is advised to approach their parish council.
Comments
by A25Lorries
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 5:00PM
“More damage has been caused to the road surface at Godstone Triangle - by HGVs approaching the acutely sharp right bend alongside Godstone Green. The pedestrian crossing seems badly sited as there is poor vision for vehicles coming from Godstone High St. The rear wheels of large HGVs frequently need to mount the kerb here to negotiate the sharp bend. This area is the subject of a visit by a government inspector along with narrow parts of the A25 at Bletchingley and Nutfield plus the increasingly congested A25 junction at Cormongers Lane. TAG-A25 are pressing Surrey Highways to investigate other options for HGVs operating from the area to reach the M25 other than via the A25 to junction 6.”
by A25Lorries
Wednesday, April 18 2012, 3:03PM
“During the recent DPD Hearing at Kingston - reference was made to the increased HGV congestion which would be caused at the Cormongers Lane junction with the A25 if the proposed Aggregates Recycling depot was allowed to proceed at the Copyhold site near to this junction. The 2011 survey data showed a 16% increase in HGVs since 2010. The inspector noted details of an existing alternative site at Hookwood which had available capacity to accommodate requirements under the Surrey Minerals Plan and had better highways links to the motorway network. There are already too many HGV movements through Nutfield, Bletchingley and Godstone from the Patteson Court landfill site and we therefore hope that the Copyhold site will be turned down until more suitable highway links are investigated for HGVs operating from this area."”
by A25Lorries
Wednesday, April 18 2012, 3:00PM
“We are in dialogue with SCC regarding the high volume of HGV movements to/from the Patteson Court Landfill site operated by Biffa as it would appear that the regulatory daily limit (600) has been exceeded on several days during August and September 2011. We have also asked SCC to consider action to limit the use by large HGVs of the A25 lay-by outside the cemetery at the entrance to Nutfield where a considerable amount of damage has occurred to the kerbs and verge. During the meeting on 20 January we handed SCC a written request for vibration tests to be carried out in Nutfield High St following damage which occurred to a gas main below the road surface and are awaiting their response. Further damage has been reported this week to water services in Godstone where a main supply pipe beneath the road leading from J6 of the M25 is receiving attention from Sutton & East Surrey Water company. The increased volume of HGVs now accessing/exiting J6 is causing increasing concern regarding underground services along this stretch of the A25. TAG-A25 Campaign Group”
by A25Lorries
Tuesday, December 06 2011, 12:23PM
“Whilst Southern Gas say that the reason for the damaged pipe was due to its age we cannot believe that the vibration from the heavy lorries were not a contributing factor.
Residents in Nutfield High St are concerned that other pipes of a similar age are exposed to this same vibration from HGVs passing each other at this narrow point.
Surrey Highways have been requested to carry out vibration tests to assess the position.”