A25 Department for Transport Safer Roads Fund Project
As part of the A25 Department for Transport Safer Roads Fund project Surrey County Council will be undertaking some road lining works in the coming weeks between the junction with Brockham Lane and Squires Garden Centre. In summary they consist of:
- Central hatching on the stretches that do not already have central hatching. This will improve the consistency of lining along the route so that there is central hatching throughout, rather than only in some sections. The central hatching will help to separate opposing streams of traffic to reduce the risk of collision through a momentary lapse, drifting or loss of control towards the centre, and will help to deter unnecessary overtaking. However, overtaking will still be allowed into the central hatching (bounded by a dashed line rather than a solid line) if there is a need to overtake a slow-moving farm vehicle or cyclist for example.
- Providing raised rib carriageway markings close to the edge of the carriageway that will mean that any vehicle drifting towards the kerb will vibrate to alert the driver when their wheels bump over the raised ribs. This edge of carriageway marking will have small gaps in it so that surface water can still drain to the edge of the carriageway. This will help to reduce the risk of loss of vehicles leaving the road due to a lapse of concentration.
- An amendment to the give-way lining at the junction of Rectory Lane which was outstanding following the high containment kerb implemented there.
- The Parish Council had requested a controlled crossing at the roundabout but unfortunately it was considered to be out of budget for the scheme, further investigation of an uncontrolled (zebra) crossing identified this was not permitted on a 40mph road. Additional hatching in the centre of the western arm of the Betchworth Roundabout are therefore being implemented in anticipation of improvements to the pedestrian crossing. At this stage we do not know if the pedestrian crossing facilities will be implemented at the same time as the lining or not.
More details available : A25 Dorking to Reigate road safety improvements scheme – Surrey County Council
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Overgrown Vegetation & Footpaths
As is typical at this time of year, a number of reports are being received regarding overgrown vegetation on footpaths, pavements and obscuring street furniture. These can all be reported to Surrey County Council. SCC will clear this vegetation where it is their responsibility and if the vegetation is coming from private land, work with the landowner’s to ensure it is cut this back.
Betchworth Parish Council would like to request that all residents and landowners check and rectify any oversailing vegetation onto the footpaths and also any street furniture which may be obscured on the Highway.
We will obviously continue to support, report and escalate issues raised to us as a Parish Council but encourage you to use the Fix my street tool and report directly, as the more people that raise an issue, the more likely we are to get a resolution.
Additionally, Councillors have recently met with the SCC Countryside Access Officer (Maintenance & Enforcement) to understand how we can better work with them to support improvements to high foot fall paths in the local area to improve routes (particularly in winter months).