RESIDENTS have been bombarding Haslemere county councillor Christine Stevens, highways manager Simon Hall, and Waverley borough councillor Nicky Lee with pleas for a solution to commuter cars clogging up Longdene Road. Emails from people who live along the road, call for the road opposite the railway station to be included in the scheme outlined for Kings Road, and other routes which are used by commuters seeking a place to park during the week. Safety is also an issue with speeding drivers using Longdene Road as a shortcut to get to the station, and double parking forcing pedestrians onto the road. Laura Holme, Carrie Ross, Chris Cook and Clare Loosley, Richard Searle and Damien Gent, who all live in Longdene Road, have suggested solutions to the problem, including residents' parking and a one-way system along Longdene and Court Hill Road, which joins it. Mr Gent told The Herald: "I think Kings Road has featured heavily in recent council discussions, perhaps placing other areas, with just as pressing problems, into the shade." Kings Road, a through route to the station, is to get double yellow lines by the footbridge. But residents have been told because of the knock-on effect of parking restrictions in any one road, the Surrey highways manager Simon Hall, is planning a Haslemere wide review of parking control. Dr Lee said: "However, this is waiting its place in the funding queue behind Farnham and Godalming and will not take place until 2009. This may be to our advantage, as he may be willing to consider changes in on-street parking if the station car park has shown real progress. Much as many of us who live within walking distance of the station may wish it, the option of simply banning on-street parking for commuters when there are no alternatives, is not permissible. "Recently I invited Simon Hall to meet me and we walked around several roads near the station which left him in no doubt of the widespread nature of the problem. We also took Waverley's new chief executive (Mary Orton) on a tour of Haslemere so that we could impress on her the severity of the problem. "As borough councillors we have sometimes turned down planning permission for new properties near the station which bring yet more cars, often without their own parking spaces. In this we are frustrated by the highways planning department who do not regard lack of parking or congestion as a planning issue. Sadly neither borough nor town councillors have the power to impose parking restrictions or traffic calming measures." Laura Holme had told Dr Lee, problems for her and other residents without driveways, being unable to find spaces for their own cars, was primarily caused by the number of commuters who park on Longdene Road from early morning to early evening. She added: "Separately, Longdene Road is a rat run with cars speeding up and down this rather narrow road, with a narrow pavement. It is extremely dangerous for pedestrians and people trying to get out of their cars safely to cross to the pavement. "I have been in a number of situations with my six- year-old son which have been very perilous simply getting to and from our car. I would really urge for you to implement traffic calming measures on this road before there is a fatality." Mrs Stevens, who has been copied into the emails, told Laura: "I understand entirely how you feel about parking on Longdene Road. I have received a number of messages over time about dangerous parking, commuter parking and difficulties about bus access. "We discuss them (traffic issues around the station) at our local task group – which involves Surrey, Waverley and town councillors and there are limited movements forward. As the situation in Kings Road is so dire, there are number of things we are doing before considering a broader scheme. The idea is to prevent commuter all-day parking, provide some space for residents but keep the road more safe. There are also danger issues with Derby Road, where commuters are double parking, reducing the ordinarily wide road into a dangerous alleyway. She added: "Dangerous parking is a matter for the police – where there is obstruction of the highway, but I appreciate that this is not always the issue." Chris Cook said: "The arrogance and wrecklessness of some of the visiting parkers seems to know no bounds, and I have personally seen drives blocked and even heard of commuters parking in private drives." Mr Hall confirmed a solution to the problem would be implemented in 2009, in conjunction with more off street parking at the railway station. While no firm plans had yet been developed, he expected "a significant improvement" to parking throughout the area.
