|
Posted by Chris Orton |
|
CHRA (us), MRRA (Malden Rushett Residents Association) & CDRA (Chessington District Residents) Association Reps recently attended a GLA meeting to "lobby" Red Ken Livingstone - Mayor of London - famous newt-lover - re. the Red Route proposals for the A243. Local Lib. Dem Councillors were also invited (although no prior "warning" was given to Residents Reps !) Several of us had been to a previous meeting, at which Ken had agreed to consult with local Residents - basically nothing would happen until TfL (Transport for London), Kingston Council & Local Residents (we always come last in these matters .....) were consulted. The outcome of both these meetings was that the date previously set aside for Red Route implementation (29th March 2002) has been revised - nothing will be implemented until after a public meeting - to be held in the Neighbourhood. Residents, TfL and RBK Councillors will be able to discuss plans. The possible outcome is that we may have bus lanes rather than the proposed Red Route. Ken said "If I had my way, every Red Route would be a bus lane .....". CHRA presented Ken with a memento of the Meeting - a metre long papier mache NEWT ! NO MEETING CAN TAKE PLACE UNTIL AFTER THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ON MAY 2ND
Update : 27/03/2002
Pictured outside the GLA, Romney
House, Marsham Street, London. 7th
March 2002. Update 29.03.02 This letter is the latest in our campaign to do away with the Red Route proposals. It is satisfying to think that without all our efforts, red lines would have been painted on our road today (29th March 2002).
Mr. D. Turner Kieron L. Kirk Transport for London Chairman Street Management Chessington Hall RA Windsor House 83 York Way 42-50 Victoria Street Chessington London SW1 0TL Surrey KT9 2JU E.mail chairman@chra.org.uk Website: www.chra.org.uk 29th March 2002
Dear Mr. Turner
A243 Proposed Red Route
Thank you for attending the meeting on Thursday 7th March 2002, with Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London. Attached you will find our main reasons for objecting to the proposed Red Route through our Resident’s area.
In principle we are opposed to the Red Route on the following grounds:-
1. Increase in the Weight of Traffic 2. Pollution 3. Road Safety 4. Public Transport
We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your reply and further discussion in the near future.
Yours sincerely
Kieron L. Kirk Chairman Chessington Hall Residents Association
Copies to: Ken Livingstone- Mayor of London, Tony Arbour- GLA Member, Ed. Davey - MP, Cllr. Marian Darke, Cllr. Kevin Davis, Cllr. Roger Hayes, Bruce McDonald - Chief Executive RBK , Jim Taylor – Chairman - Chessington District RA, Gavin Walker – Chairman – Malden Rushett RA
1. Increase in the Weight of Traffic Recent surveys have indicated that the number of vehicles using the A243 daily is in excess of 25,000, most of this traffic is not generated by local people and is actually commuter based, this is exacerbated during Chessington World of Adventures “season”. Recent trains strikes have pushed the figures still higher .
2. Pollution Local Residents Associations have all received Resident concerns about noise generated from traffic on the A243, many people choose to live in Chessington or Malden Rushett having been attracted to the area by its supposed semi-rural nature. Indeed Malden Rushett can boast a number of flourishing farms. With the increasing weight of traffic it is inevitable that the air pollution figures cause concern. It is a well known fact that childhood asthma is on the increase due to fumes from traffic.
3. Road Safety Whilst there are no schools or colleges directly within the Chessington Hall area, many of our Resident’s children travel to school on foot or by public transport. We are extremely concerned that currently provision of pedestrian controlled crossings is inadequate. In the Summer of 2001, one of our local Residents was very seriously injured whilst using the pedestrian operated crossing south of Garrison Lane on the Leatherhead Road (A243). This incident involved an adult lady who was pushing her bicycle, this highlights the dangers posed to children, who are obviously even less visible to drivers. The crossing is more heavily used during the summer months when Chessington World of Adventures Theme Park attracts visitors to our area. The increased numbers of pedestrians during Chessington World of Adventures opening times makes it difficult for drivers whose line of sight is impaired when entering or leaving the Barwell Industrial Estate. Our Residents Association is very concerned that nobody, be they visitor or local Resident, should be put at any risk whilst crossing the A243, we are convinced that a Red Route would not help the situation as it would increase traffic numbers in our area.
4. Public Transport Many of our local Residents are regular public transport users either to their schools, colleges or places of work, our pensioners rely on buses to take them to our Post Office in Hook and to the local shops. We are well provided with buses in the Chessington Hall Area with the 71, 467, 465 and free Tesco bus. Our neighbours in Malden Rushett are isolated with only a half hourly service provided by the 465. The proposed Red Route whilst attracting more car users, will we fear actually discourage our Residents from using public transport. Mr Livingstone himself suggested that he would like to see all Red Routes become bus lanes and CHRA would be very much in favour of his proposal. UPDATE - 26/04/2002
***UPDATE 04/06/2002*** This file is downloadable. If you do not have WinZip please click here CHRA - Letters from Tony Arbour - 778KB |
