Many residents have expressed concern to me recently about the impact of poor parking and careless driving of vehicles in the Town Centre.
Residents are concerned about:
- The interaction of drivers and pedestrians in our Town Centre,
- Damage to the footpaths,
- Obstruction impacting on those with mobility needs,
- Obstruction of the service yards for deliveries,
- Disabled spaces occupied by vehicles without passes,
- Illegal parking in yellow line areas and on the footpaths.
I have also been talking to SHBC's officers who want to see a more pedestrian friendly environment that encourages a healthier lifestyle in keeping with the original design for the High Street.
One option is to pedestrianise the High Street between Princess Way and Obelisk Way. That was in the original plan for the High Street but at that time some of the shop owners objected to that. It would also help create a pedestrianised route around the whole of the SQ mall, the High Street and Park Street. There is some evidence that increased pedestrianisation results in longer visitor stays in Town Centres with increased opportunities for businesses. However, in my view we also need lower parking charges and the recent increase made by the current SHBC administration makes it harder for our shops. I am interested in your opinions on this subject.
Another option I am looking at is to stop the Service Yards being Public Highway. That will allow them to be barriered off and prevent the obstruction of deliveries to the shops. The downside is that access to free evening parking will be reduced. That will be entirely due to the actions of some selfish drivers causing obstructions but losing a major supermarket because of them isn't an option.
In the last few weeks, I have:
- Arranged for some of the service yard parking markings to renewed and improved so they can be enforced.
- Asked for increased enforcement activity to discourage illegal parking.
- Asked for repairs to surfaces and kerbs.
- Ordered the replacement of the dangerous brickwork tree planter in Obelisk Way.
- Asked for the rising bollard in Park Street to be reinstated as a matter of urgency.
- Continued to put pressure on SSE to permanently repair the damage they have done in the High Street and Princess Way.
- Arranged for action on a breach of Building Regulations by a developer.
- Cllr Trefor Hogg, Surrey County Councillor for Camberley East
