CONTROVERSIAL proposals to transform a Haslemere street into a cul-de-sac look set to be shelved as a result of overwhelming opposition. A request to close Pine View Close to through traffic is expected to be refused by county councillors today (Friday) but other traffic-calming measures could be on the cards. Surrey County Council's local committee for Waverley is due to receive the results of the public consultation for the proposals. As previously reported by The Herald, residents of Pine View Close have submitted a request to the county council seeking permission to close their road at its junction with Whitfield Road, thereby returning it to a cul-de-sac. They have said that this is because Pine View Close is being used as a rat-run by speeding residents of the High Lane estate. "A small, circular island is located at the far end the road (at the junction with Whitfield Road) and the majority of people use this as a roundabout. "The roundabout leads to an area locally know as The Causeway. "This is the link onto the estate, it is approximately 4.5 metres wide with no footways, and bushes and ditches on either side. "This means it is very difficult for pedestrians with prams or wheelchairs to use the road if a car or van is on The Causeway. "The alternative routes into the estate are similar in width but are subject to more parking due to a lack of off-street facilities. "All properties in Pine View Close have some form of off-street parking facilities. However, numerous site visits to the area have shown that there are a number of cars parked on the carriageway. "Residents have reported that a number of vehicles have been damaged by passing traffic which is the main reason why they have constructed driveways and hard standings." Surrey County Council agreed to consider the request and began a period of public consultation and sent out a questionnaire to 441 homes on the estate. The consultation attracted a huge response with the council receiving 278 questionnaires back as well as 32 letters. Of those who responded, around two-thirds regularly used Pine View Close as an entrance to the estate and more than 80 per cent were against the closure. "Pine View Close is considered by local residents of Whitfield Road as the most direct route on to the estate," the report said. "A number of concerns have been raised by local residents about emergency access if Pine View Close were to be restricted or closed. "Following discussions with the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service this is not considered to be a significant concern as they are well within the required response times." Councillors were also due to hear that speed studies have also been carried out in Pine View Close and its surrounding roads, which showed that the average vehicle is travelling at just over 30 mph. "Speeds in the low 30s on these narrow estate roads are intimidating to residents where the footways and verges are narrow, such as Pine View Close, and do not allow someone crossing between parked cars to cross in safety," the report said. "Fortunately none of the roads under assessment has a significant accident record. "High Lane is the only area with more than one accident in five years. None of these accidents was speed-related." Councillors were due to hear that the massive opposition to any closure meant that officers were recommending that it did not go ahead. "There is insufficient local support for the closure of Pine View Close but not all of the reasons given in objection are valid," said the report. However, officers were recommending that the possibility of installing traffic calming was investigated because there is "a significant problem for pedestrians using Pine View Close, The Causeway and Weycombe Road".
