By Monica Jones
We reported some months ago about increas-ing concern and frustration regarding speed-ing vehicles along Thames Street. Over 300 signatures were added to the original petition to get better speed management in place along the road. Surrey County Councillor Buddhi Weerasinghe is very supportive. He told us “Over the last few months, I have been con-tacted by a number of residents and business-es in Thames Street who are very concerned about the speeding and vibrations that are caused by high speeding, affecting buildings in the area. I have witnessed this myself sev-eral times and as the Divisional Member for Lower Sunbury and Halliford at SCC, I fully support the petition. I have already got Surrey Council officers to work with the campaigners and will continue to engage with and support this campaign”.
Patrick Leaney launched the campaign after he moved to Thames Street 2 years ago and was shocked at the vibrations in his home when buses and heavy lorries went through the village. Vibrations, and possible damage to infrastructure is one thing. The other major problem in Thames Street is the speed some people drive at, particularly late at night.
His campaign has gained momentum (no pun intended!). At the end of August a meeting was held at the Riverside Arts Centre for local residents to meet with an officer from Surrey Highways and have a chance to air their views. It was attended by close to 40 people. Amongst those gathered were people who had lived on Thames Street for many years. They were able to offer a historic perspective. Be-fore speed bumps were installed, for example, there were no vibrations to buildings. The speed bumps cause heavy vehicles to “bounce”, causing shock waves to the old Edwardian and Victorian buildings which make the centre of Sunbury so attractive. Many residents reported cracks.
The restriction of 7.5 tons on lorries is being ignored, with larger HGVs regularly using Lower Sunbury as a rat run, a fact compound
ed by an old diversion sign at Hampton, which was left up in error.
Residents complained that the signage for the 20mph limit is not clear enough, or repeated through the village. This at least is something which is being addressed and you will soon see repeater signs and “roundals” on the roads, reminding drivers of the 20mph limit. Sadly, there will NOT be speed cameras, as in Hampton village. Why not? Because Hamp-ton comes under the TFL zone, which is flush with cash, and we come under Surrey, which is not!
The frustration in the room was palpable. The Surrey highways representative frequently laid the responsibility with the police, where-as residents have been told by police that speed restrictions need to be dealt with by Surrey CC. There is no joined up approach! One lady reported that she had been clipped by a truck outside The Phoenix. Mothers with children, or push chairs, take their lives into their hands navigating the narrow pavement there. There is no chance of protective rail-ings being put up at this narrow path, simply because, ironically by law, it is not wide enough.
It is encouraging that the campaign is being brought before the Surrey Council cabinet meeting at the end of September, with Buddhi Weerasinghe speaking in favour of action. There is also a commitment from the Surrey highways representative to work with Buddhi to arrange another local residents’ meeting but this time including police representation. Enough is enough! To further support this campaign, we urge you to report any incidents or near-misses of speeding, dangerous driving or injury, no matter how small. These are the statistics which the Police will react to and we know incidents and near-misses are happen-ing almost every day. We must not wait until a serious accident happens. Please use 101 or you can do it online at surrey.police.uk/report a crime. And do sign the petition: https://www.change.org/ThamesStreet