Reducing the speed limit on Ranmore Common

For some months, Leith Hill residents and others have been campaigning for a reduction to the speed limit on Ranmore Common Road. In October 2008, a petition was handed into Surrey County Council, who have said that they will give an answer in December 2008.

The following is the text of a letter sent to Roger Archer Reeves of Surrey Highways in May 2008. 

Dear Mr Archer-Reeves,

For some time, residents on Ranmore Common have expressed concern about the speed of vehicles on this road.

I have been contacted by one of my residents, a Mr Graham Shove who lives on Ranmore Common. There is a 60 mph speed limit that begins by the National Trust car park on the top of the Common.

As you know, Ranmore Common is bounded by National Trust land and it sees a number of walkers and runners, both individuals and in groups, who come from far and wide to enjoy the scenery.  It is also home to a large number of horse riders including many who travel great distances in order to enjoy the special facilities that are available here.  So too do hundreds of schoolchildren doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award training, as well as other projects.  

All of these activities take place on the few feet of open space either side of this road.

The road across Ranmore has become a highly dangerous rat-run between Dorking and Guildford, and each day we see and hear the tell-tale signs of road rage as drivers seek to overtake others, not only on the few straight stretches but also on the bends.  Residents report that they wake up to find tyre tracks across the verges where vehicles have left the road or, even worse, been forced off by others.  They also regularly see debris left by vehicle skirmishes.

Mr Shove described to me how one resident of the houses on the southern side of the road, was nearly the victim of a very serious collision as he tried to come off the road.

In addition, that part of the Ranmore Road that leads up from Dorking (I believe there is a 40 mph restriction here) has also seen a number of accidents, where vehicles have collided with the wall on the northern side of the road. You should also be aware of the congestion that builds up around the civic amenity site on this stretch of road. It is only a matter of time before a car coming down the hill, runs into the queues that form outside the site or into a car overtaking the queue coming from the opposite direction.

Recently we had a fatal accident on the 60 mph stretch of Ranmore Road. Obviously I cannot comment on the cause, but it seems clear to me and the residents of my ward that a 60mph speed limit on this winding country lane is unsafe, especially with so many people using the area for enjoyment.  All of the country roads south of Dorking, through the beautiful Surrey villages as far as Gatwick, are regulated by a 30mph limit and quite rightly so. 

We believe that it is high time Ranmore Common is included in such a measure before we have other (potentially worse) accidents.  If a speeding vehicle were to leave the road and plough into a group of people out enjoying themselves, the result could be devastating. 

I have read the document on Surrey County Council’s website, "Determining and Applying Speed Limits." This states:-

"The default national speed limit on single carriageway roads in rural areas is 60 mph (though lower speeds can apply to certain vehicles). However there is a strong safety and social case for lower limits in certain circumstances (for example through villages, along country lanes, or along stretches with a poor safety record).

I do appreciate that specific criteria is applied to Tier 1 and Tier 2 roads. I do not know into which Tier, the Ranmore Road falls but I would be grateful for that information.

I am aware of a similar road, Bunce Common Road at Leigh which runs from the Seven Stars public house to its junction with Shellwood Road.  I believe there are a similar number of houses in that road as on Ranmore, but it is straight and fairly level whereas Ranmore is undulating with many dangerous bends

Whilst Ranmore is not a village as such, it is a community, but the volume of people using it in such varied leisure pursuits requires special consideration

At present, residents are putting together a petition to reduce the speed limit on the Ranmore Road from 60 mph to 30 mph. At the very least, we believe that the county council should consider the placement of Vehicle Activated Signs, and also the supply of speed cameras to residents, such as has been done in the nearby Ashcombe Road.

PETITION ADDRESSED TO SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL EAST SURREY HIGHWAYS SERVICES

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