TRAFFIC-calming measures, soon to be introduced to Kings Road in Haslemere, have received a mixed reception from local residents.

At Surrey County Council's local committee in Waverley, it was confirmed that £50,000 would be spent on the implementation of traffic-calming measures including speed cushions and double yellow lines.

But despite welcoming the move, members of the Kings Road Action Group said they would have preferred to see the eastern arm of Kings Road, near the sharp bend, closed completely.

They believed this would stop it being used as a "through road" by dividing the road into two with the station end to the footbridge for residential traffic and the rest of the road for heavier traffic using Herons Leisure Centre and the industrial estate.

A consultation carried out by the county council asked residents to choose between the action group's suggestion or the implementation of calming measures.

The results concluded that there was no majority for the closure and on balance the disadvantages of closing the road outweighed the benefits; a point which has angered members of the action group.

"I've been told today by (Surrey County Council's principal engineer) Tracey Webb that the reason they're not cutting the road is because of a lack of response from residents which we're very disappointed about," said an action group member, Kevin Hall.

"The association emailed residents and a number of businesses and we found that the response was very positive to our suggestion. The problem was that when it came to it, very few people bothered to put down their preferences in writing to the council, which is what was required.

"The council doesn't take any notice of petitions now, they want letters."

The county council had further said that closing part of the road could encourage more commuter parking and delay response time for ambulances.

"We had thought of ways to address concerns about ambulances and we would have had a barrier placed across the road by the industrial estate, which emergency services would have a swipe card to use in the event of an emergency," said Mr Hall.

"We also know from Surrey County Council that emergency services don't use Kings Road as a through road anyway."

Kings Road has long been a major concern for local residents and has been branded one of the worst in the town.

The road is used by cars and lorries as a rat-run to avoid the congestion in Wey Hill and there is excessive parking on the bend close to the pedestrian bridge across the railway line. The number of cars which speed down it has led many to fear fatalities there in the future.

"We're pleased that measures are to be in place to serve Kings Road, but it's not exactly what we want," added Mr Hall.

Work is expected to start on the measures after Christmas.