Road safety is one of the issues I hear most about from residents in Horley who are let down by Surrey County Council’s response to their concerns.

My constituent Marco met with me on Massetts Road where he often cannot get home in his wheelchair because people keep blocking the pavement. I wrote to Surrey Police and Surrey Highways to enforce the restrictions, as parking across a pavement is illegal. Sadly, Highways’ initial response to Marco was to ask him to take photos instead of enforcing it properly themselves.

After pressure from Horley Accessibility Group and myself, Surrey Highways is finally acknowledging the dangers of pavement parking on Massetts Road. The latest parking review proposes double yellow lines to stop cars blocking the pavement. But this still requires Surrey Highways to enforce these restrictions, ensuring safe access for our disabled, elderly, and young families with buggies.

Residents have observed numerous dangerous incidents at the junction between Meath Green Lane, Webber Street, and Hoadley Road where inadequate signage and poor sight lines combine with excessive speed and attempted, illegal left/right turns at the junction. Despite speed reductions along Meath Green Lane, speed tables and a newly introduced crossing patrol, the crossing outside Meath Green Junior School remains an accident waiting to happen.

placeholder image — Chris and Marco on Massetts Road

I supported a petition alongside Cllrs Steve Wotton and Sam Lewin-Mearing, signed by over 600 people, calling for a pelican crossing on Meath Green Lane to help keep children safe on their journey to and from Meath Green Junior School. Sadly, the Council have denied our request, despite their own surveys showing drivers exceed the speed limit on Meath Green Lane by more than 20%.

Furthermore, the ‘bus only’ junction between Meath Green Lane and Webber Street fails to fulfil Reigate and Banstead Borough Council planning objectives due to poorly installed and inadequately maintained barriers and illegal access to and from Meath Green Lane for vehicular traffic. The issues on Meath Green Lane are in addition to the significant increase in traffic volumes and speeds on Lee Street/ Horley Row/ Mill Lane, a matter that has also been raised by Horley Town Council in a letter to Surrey Highways.

To improve pedestrian safety outside Meath Green School and on Lee Street, Councillors Steve Wotton and Sam Lewin-Mearing are setting up a community speed watch. If you would like to help make roads safer in Horley, please get in touch with Steve: [email protected]

If you would like to be involved in any of my campaigns, please email me at [email protected] to see how you can get involved.