Plans to install barriers to a Surrey high street put forward - but residents worry it won't fix 'the real problem'
Barriers blocking cars from a Surrey high street during the day could be installed, but people are worried this will not fix the issue of “nuisance” e-bikes and delivery drivers.
Surrey County Council is proposing to install new barriers at both ends of Staines high street to stop vehicles or bikes from entering and driving down the road in the middle of the day.
Staines High Street has been a pedestrian zone for a number of years, with no vehicles or bikes allowed on the street from 9:30am to 5pm, due to a Traffic Regulation Order.
Deliveries to businesses are permitted to use the high street outside of this time, as well as market traders being allowed to set up their stalls.
Up until 2015, rising bollards at either end of the high street restricted vehicle access and kept a clear pedestrian zone.
But these have not been used for years due to damage and are now “beyond economical repair”, according to Surrey County Council.
The local authority said it did not have the funding to replace the bollards, which would also be expensive and difficult to maintain.
Instead, the council has suggested a manual restriction barrier would help keep the pedestrian zone car-free.
Manned by a parking enforcement officer, they will be able to prevent unwanted cars from using the high street.
The police will ultimately be able to enforce charges.
But people commenting on the plans have said the “biggest safety hazard throughout the entire day and night is the e-bike and moped drivers”.
Residents said more could be done to stop the delivery drivers and e-bikes speeding down the street and creating an “unsightly cluster”.
One resident commented: “These fast food couriers are a nuisance who think the pedestrianised High Street is their own carpark.”
Another said the bikes “get far too close to pedestrians during their day and go far too fast down the street at night”.
Although bicycles, e-scooters and mopeds are not legally allowed in the pedestrian area, the county council said it cannot physically restrict the vehicles from going in the high street.
Any physical blocks would also prevent people who use wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or prams from accessing the town centre.
People also begged the council to make the new barriers aesthetically pleasing.
“PLEASE make them look nice,” someone commented. “Do not install bright yellow or red barriers. Please make them with a nice pattern or something. The high street does not need more neon coloured street furniture.”
Emergency services are being consulted on the idea to book-end the high street as part of the process.
Under the proposed scheme, the barriers can be unlocked using a padlock which emergency services will all carry a standard key to open.
People can read through and comment on the proposals on the county council’s website by April 7.