Attached below this text box are letters that residents have received from R&BBC. The key points from each have been summarised below. If you have received a letter from R&BBC that you would like to share on this site, please email it to:
admin@horleymatters.org27-06-08 Letter : Key points-
an officer is not available on Monday evening to attend your meeting but can discuss concerns in Help shop (2nd) or Waitrose (4th)
- I am happy to arrange a meeting with Officers and a small group of residents to discuss issues.
- I can confirm that large and small scale copies of the plan have been sent by first class post to you today.
- have suggested that if possible you endeavour to get an electronic or written response in by 11 July but we can be flexible
- nothing rushed, there is a desire to consult
- this is an initial consultation plan to encourage discussion and debate. Assessment of the consultation outcome will enable us to develop a revised scheme for consultation.
- Any scheme would be implemented on a phased basis subject to funding being available.
- Funding for this project would be through multiple sources including developer contributions and SCC and RBBC funding allocations. There would be flexibility about exactly what schemes could be implemented and when.
The principle behind the planned improvements is to:
- secure Horley future as a viable local centre
- encourage business growth and a wider range of activity.
- Evidence from town centre pedestrianisation schemes elsewhere shows significant benefits in terms of increased footfall and spend.
30-06-08 Letter: Key points
- Implementing any trial or final scheme would be subject to the outcomes of consultation and the availability of funding.
- The rationale behind a trial would be to allow us to fully assess impacts before implementing a scheme.
- A roundabout is one option being considered at the Russell's Crescent/Victoria Road junction to ease traffic and pedestrian flows and create an improved sense of arrival in the town.
- Clearly we are mindful of the conservation area and any improvements would be designed to be in keeping with this.
- Russell's Crescent is a D class road and its status would not change. Predicted traffic volumes would be well within its design capacity.
- Signage could be provided for heavy vehicles to direct them along alternative routes and a weight limit could be put in place.
- We would look to ensure that town centre deliveries continued to operate under existing arrangements (e.g. Waitrose)to prevent use of Russell's Crescent
- One of SCC/RBBC's core objectives for Horley is to encourage a 20% modal shift - a move away from car usage to alternative modes of transport. SCC have invested significant funds already in improvements to Horley Station and the Fastway bus service. The town centre improvements are designed to discourage through traffic in the town centre and make it accessible and attractive for everyone to use.
- We have had traffic counts undertaken and have modelled the likely traffic impact associated with these proposals (I attach an excerpt for information [RC shown as +70%]). These figures do not take account of modal shift, limiting through traffic in the town centre or the traffic calming measures proposed. Actually figures are therefore likely to be significantly lower.
- It would be helpful if in addition to outlining your concerns you were able as a group to give some thought to where you feel there are opportunities to improve the town centre and how this could be achieved.03-07-08 Letter: Key Pointswe have extended the timescale for consultation until 31 July.
- We are only consulting on principles at this point and there would be more detailed localised consultation prior to the implementation of any scheme.
- I do apologise to residents that they were not individually informed - we had used multiple mechanisms including the Horley newsletter which went to every household and business, press releases, displays etc but clearly this was not sufficient.
- We will be writing to all parties including Russell's Crescent residents to advise them of the outcomes of the consultation and our proposals as soon as this information is available.
- as we discussed we would certainly look to agree with stakeholders (including yourselves) the timescales and details of any proposed trial along with the methodology for assessing any trial were it to go ahead.
- it is my view that any trial would be highly unlikely to proceed before 2009 at the earliest.04-07-08 Letter: Key points-
Thanks for your email. We will be extending the consultation period until the end of July
- I am copying to you the response I sent to Mrs Bond this morning who I understand is coordinating a response on behalf of Russell's Crescent
residents.
- You are obviously welcome to respond individually as well.
