Cottimore Lane
Road Safety Campaign
For the benefit of all who live, visit and pass through Cottimore Lane, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
This is ridiculous...
Surrey Highways installed two vehicle activated signs in FEBRUARY 2024.
One was installed behind a tree and the other in a bush...
Despite weeks of asking, we are still waiting to hear when they are going to rectify this error....
Should you wish to reach out to Surrey County Council about this pitiful mistake, please see email addresses below:
Cabinet Member for Surrey Highways:
matt.furniss@surreycc.gov.uk
Surrey County Council Road Safety & Sustainable School Travel Manager:
duncan.knox@surreycc.gov.uk
Surrey Highways Complaints:
county.complaints@surreycc.gov.uk
Surrey County Councillor for Walton:
r.lake@surreycc.gov.uk
So, what's the problem?
Many drivers break the 30mph speed limit along Cottimore Lane.
We believe this is due to a lack of speed deterrents.
This issue has been raised many times over many years with local councillors, Surrey County Council and the police who have been asked to consider installing adequate road safety measures to help deter speeding drivers.
This is a serious issue that has been going on for far too long...
Despite multiple concerns being raised, the problem has still not been addressed...
Below is a map highlighting the disparity between the other speed deterrents in the locality and Cottimore Lane:
We love Cottimore Lane in Walton-on-Thames. It is home to a wonderful community of people, great shops, local businesses and community space.
Cottimore Lane also provides access to green spaces and is a popular through road close to Walton town centre, the River Thames and Hersham.
About
Our Aims
Our main aim is to ensure Surrey County Council addresses the issue and implements adequate road safety measures on Cottimore Lane to make our road safer for everyone. Such cost effective speed deterrents suggested include; Vehicle activated signs, Pedestrian refuge islands, Slow road markings and Flat painted speed bump markings.
Below are some indicative artist impressions of what Cottimore Lane COULD POTENTIALLY look like IF some of the speed deterrents we are campaigning for are implemented…
So what are Surrey County Council waiting for?
There's another problem... It appears we first need to get Surrey County Council to change their stance on when to implement such measures...
"...We will take action in those instances/locations where evidence shows us that such action will result in the greatest benefit in terms of helping to reduce the number of people already being injured on Surrey’s roads, and are unlikely to take any engineering actions where that evidence is not present..."
- Traffic Engineer, Surrey Highways & Transport, Surrey County Council (January 2023)
We are shocked and distressed by Surrey County Council's financially driven and uncaring attitude that someone has to actually die or be injured before action is taken.
We have been advised by Surrey County Council they only "...usually consider the data from the past 3 years as relevant...".
However, a speed survey carried out in 2019 showed over 39%, more than 1 in 3 vehicles broke the speed limit on Cottimore Lane and the highest recorded speed was 88mph - almost three times the limit.
How much more evidence do Surrey County Council need that there's a problem before they do something?
Why do we have to wait until someone has been injured or killed in order to help avoid such devastating incidents from happening in the first place?
We feel it is only a matter of time before someone is again injured or even killed on Cottimore Lane unless road safety measures are improved.
Unfortunately, such incidents have already occurred in multiple similar locations where numerous concerns were previously raised with Surrey County Council about a lack of road safety measures.
We understand that council budgets are tight, however, we firmly believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...
"...The Department for Transport estimates the value of an average collision at around £105,000, which includes the cost of health care, emergency services, damage to property and vehicles and the lost economic output for the people injured…”
- GetSurrey Article - September 2021
Surrey County Council ran their 2021/2022 budget at a +£26m suplus
and increased the value of their assets to c. £2,700,000,000 (Two billion, seven hundred million).
- Surrey County Council Statement of Accounts 2021/2022 (pages 17 & 20)
Cottimore Lane contributes approximately £600,000 per year alone
in council tax and business rates.
How you can help
There are many ways you can help and any support is much appreciated.
You don't have to live on Cottimore Lane to get involved - we are campaigning for the benefit of all who live, visit and pass through Cottimore Lane, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
It doesn't take very long and we have made it easy to get you to the right places to voice your concerns - just click on the links:
Join us and get involved
Please get in touch if you would like to join the group
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