CLOSING a Haslemere road to through traffic will do nothing to tackle "non-existent" traffic problems and will in fact the situation worse, it has been claimed this week. A request has been made by the residents of Pine View Close to close their road at its junction with Whitfield Road, thereby returning it to a cul-de-sac, because it is being used as a rat-run by residents of a neighbouring estate. However, those living in neighbouring roads have denied that this is the case and are arguing against it. As previously reported by The Herald, the request was submitted to Surrey County Council's local committee for Waverley last month. Residents of the close claimed that the closure, closing £5,000, had been requested because the redevelopment of the High Lane Estate had caused additional traffic to use the road at great speed. Councillors heard that one of the three accesses into the estate was closed as part of the development and it is for this reason that additional traffic is using the close, despite the fact that no improvements or traffic calming had been carried out. At the meeting, councillors agreed that they would consider the closure and will formally advertise it before making a final decision. "No one understands local traffic and road conditions better than the people who live there," said committee chairman Maureen Nyazai. "As this closure could affect residents in Derby Road, High Lane and Church Lane, as well as the estate roads, I am glad that all surrounding houses are to be advised about the proposals and views sought." However, the proposal has brought an angry reaction from nearby residents who are arguing that the closure would do little to help a "rat- running" problem which they claim is non-existent anyway. Local resident Andrew Humphrey of Parsons Green disputed that one access road on to the estate was closed and questioned why Pine View Close should be treated as a special case. "If traffic is as bad as they claim, then surely forcing more traffic into fewer entry points can only make matters worse for the vast majority of people here," he said. "I also struggle to understand why the (borough) council has allowed recent development in Pine View Close, or indeed in Kiln Fields, if there was an access problem. "I would be happier if the people behind this proposal were to be honest and simply state what most of the population here believe to be the true driving force behind this proposal, which is to create a quiet cul-de-sac with residents-only parking to increase the value of their already exclusive properties, without any consideration for those less fortunate than them." A resident of Whitfield Road, who asked not to be named, also claimed that it was an "imaginary problem" and that the closure had a hidden agenda. "One of the reasons that were given to us was that the main organisers of the action would like to let their children play in the road," he said. "As we said, what do you have gardens for?" Another local resident, Barbara Hastewell of Parsons Close, said that there were other roads in the town which were badly affected by rat-running, such as Derby Road, Kings Road and Critchmere Lane "to a much greater extent than the residents of Pine View Close". She questioned what would happen if they put forward similar plans to block off one end of their roads to traffic. "One can only imagine the chaos that would prevail in Haslemere with drivers trying to find their way around the town after finding their way blocked by bollards across the road." Despite the criticism, one resident of Pine View Close, who asked not to be named, jumped to the defence of the proposed road closure. "It is solely to return the road to what it was designed as, a close, and to stop it being used as a high-speed short cut to elsewhere by over 90 per cent of (the estate's) traffic, nearly all of which could take shorter exit routes from the estate. "To close Pine View Close would not cause any traffic problems because High Lane Estate was not designed to use it as an access road. "It would also make the road a lot safer." Haslemere's county councillor Christine Stevens told The Herald that it was vital that the county council should be proactive with its consultations. "I do recognise that people in the roads surrounding the area, such as Derby Road, Weydown Road and Whitfield Road, may want to comment because they may be affected by this," she said. "It is very important that transport officers get in contact with residents' associations and residents to make them aware of this and get their views." The proposals are expected to be formally advertised shortly. Those wishing to comment may send their views of the Waverley local transportation team at Grosvenor House, London Square, Cross Lanes, Guildford, GU1 1FA.
