Egham barrier plan sparks heated exchanges

Feb 5 2010 By Russell Butt

St Paul's Road is one of the streets earmarked for a barrier

ANGRY residents packed a church hall to discuss controversial plans to barricade off a road to stop speeding motorists. More than 70 residents filled St Paul's Church Hall, Egham Hythe, to hear more about plans by Surrey County Council to put a barrier in St Paul's Road to prevent it being used as a 'rat run' by speeding motorists, getting from Chertsey Lane to Thorpe Road and vice versa.

The feisty meeting, chaired by borough ward councillor, Gill Warner, involved residents both in favour of the barrier, many from St Paul's Road and the Wapshott and Bowes Road estate. And also numerous residents vehemently opposed to the proposals.

Cllr Warner said that any traffic problems on the road would be exacerbated when other homes on the newly redeveloped housing estate were filled

Campaigning against the barrier, one resident said: "The community of Egham has the right to use this road."

Bowes Road resident, Dennis Williams, added: "Why should we on this estate be penalised by other traffic that comes through? They should be penalised in some way, and speed humps would do it. The speeding motorists should pay the penalty – not us."

Len Blackwood, who has lived on St Paul's Road for 30 years, said the barrier proposals were 'marvellous'. When a discussion arose about whether the key issue was sheer volume of traffic, or the speed of motorists, he said: "Speed is the crucial issue. I see cars going down here at 60mph and there’s young kids around. I don’t like it.

"Blow the amount of traffic, it’s the speed. I would put up with going the long way round – for safety."

Another resident claimed he had been overtaken on the road by a BMW which 'went through at 45 or 50mph'.

"So, how are we going to stop that?" he asked.

Many other residents expressed fears that with the level crossing barriers down, there would be no alternative route for traffic and it would become even more congested. They claimed this would get even worse if the Airtrack rail link was to be given the go-ahead.

The barrier proposals came following a consultation between residents on the affected roads and Surrey County Council. The residents were given options of various calming measures, including speed humps and chicanes, but the barrier proved the most popular.

Another meeting will take place at the church hall on February 22, at 7pm. Surrey County Councillor, Yvonna Lay will be on hand to answer questions.