Sir, – Following my letter in The Herald on February 22 about the over height electronic warning signs at the often battered Wrecclesham railway bridge, there was no response from our local and not so local politicians. Hence I contacted Surrey County Council Highways department directly. They converted my request into one under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Here are the salient points from my FOI request 18291:

Q: How long has the southbound Overheight Vehicle Detection sign not been working?

A: The southbound sign (near The Hatches) has been out of action since approximately March 2017.

Q: Before the last recorded strike in February, when was it previously tested?

A: It was previously inspected on November 16, 2017

Q: When will it be working again?

A: This depends on funding. We are hoping to obtain quotes in the next few weeks for full replacement of both signs. The southbound sign is badly damaged by water ingress and snails, and both signs are very old and obsolete.

Q: Does the northbound sign work as it should?

A: The northbound sign (near Riverdale) is currently working, but in poor condition. This has been checked and confirmed recently.

Q: When was it last tested?

A: It was last tested on March 1, 2018.

Q: How often are the signs tested?

A: All our traffic systems installations, including this sign, are inspected every six months. They also have a “bulk lamp change” every six months, so all of our installations are visited every three months.

From the FOI reply, it is clear that it hasn’t worked for more than a year, and nothing has so far been done about it. Furthermore it is bizarre that the southbound sign kept on getting inspected when it was known not to be working. Were SCC expecting a miracle to occur?

There is no certainty of these signs being replaced any time soon as funding is needed. At the second Wrecclesham Village Voice meeting, the notes on the meeting use words such as the “possibility” of sign replacement and that SCC “could” do this within three to six months. We really need to hear instead, such words as: “The work will be done!” More than a year has already passed and if the three to six months further delay is likely, then this means the signs have been failing us for more than 18 months.

There is aspirational talk of a Wrecclesham by-pass, an underpass at Hickley’s Corner, speed cameras and even the as yet undisclosed plans to pedestrianise Farnham town centre, which are all long term aspirations. In the short term, I would just be happy for a couple of electronic signs to help reduce the likelihood of yet more bridge strikes and lorry topples.

Also, I believe I am correct in saying that the warning signs on the A31 only display the height in feet and inches, which is surely unhelpful for those who only understand metric.

I am hoping that my Surrey county councillor for Farnham South, Wyatt Ramsdale, elected on a promise of safer roads and pavements, will consider applying his ‘gift’ of an extra £7,500 from SCC to use on roads, towards the replacement of these ineffective signs.

*By Michael Buckeridge, Bardsley Drive, Farnham

*Send your letters by post to 114/115 West Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7HL or email [email protected], including your full postal address.