Surrey Cycling Strategy

The request was successful.

Dear Surrey County Council,

I had previously enquired about minutes for the cycling strategy board https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/s... as I hoped these would hold information on the delivery of the Council's cycle strategy https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/asset...

However, neither the strategy board or cycle forum seem to have met as planned, so the information was not obviously available. Could you therefore please provide the following information about the strategy and it's implementation in Reigate and Banstead Borough:

- In the 5 years since the plan was agreed, can you please provide the total amount that the council has spent on cycle infrastructure, how much in total the council has spent on transport infrastructure and what the planned budget for cycling and transport infrastucture are for the forthcoming years?

- Please can you provide the following information on staffing: an FTE head count of council staff directly involved in cycling and walking; the job titles of staff directly involved in cycling and walking; an organogram showing the position of staff directly involved in cycling and walking within the Highways Division; and a total FTE of staff within the Highways Division?

- For monitoring purposes the plan states "We will produce an annual Countywide report" and "There will be individual reports for Districts and Boroughs" Please can you provide copies of each of the reports produced for the county and for Reigate and Banstead?

- The plan says that "We will... consider appropriate targets". Please can you provide information on cycling targets set under the plan and performance against those targets?

- The strategy states it will "Develop a cycle audit process for new highway infrastructure". Please could you provide information on the audit process and any examples where it has been used in Reigate and Banstead?

- The strategy set out regular Cycle Strategy Board meetings and creation of a Cycle Strategy Forum. From the previous request the Board appears to have been discontinued and the forum was never created. Can you please provide any notes, minutes or e-mails where it was discussed and agreed to discontinue these?

- The strategy details that "On busy roads, physical separation of cyclists from motorised vehicles and pedestrians is preferred". It also notes that "The appropriateness of shared use pavements will therefore depend on local circumstances... The drawbacks will need to be balanced against the potential benefits, and considered on a case-by-case basis." Can you give any information on any cycle routes added within Reigate and Banstead which have been segregated from traffic and pedestrians? If not, can you provide any notes, minutes or e-mails detailing where this was considered and why this was not possible?

- The strategy details that "Cyclists going straight on should have priority at side roads where this can be safely accommodated." Can you give any information held on any schemes within the Reigate and Banstead district where cycle routes have been given priority at a side road? If not, can you provide any notes, minutes or e-mails detailing where this was considered and why this was not possible?

- The strategy states "Surrey County Council is investing in the road network through Operation Horizon, a five year £100 million investment programme to improve the condition of Surrey’s roads. As part of this there is an opportunity to integrate cycling infrastructure into the programme, including securing additional investment to achieve quality routes in line with the principles outlined above. " Can you please provide any information where new cycle infrastructure has been included within the Operation Horizon maintenance programme in Reigate and Banstead? If not, can you provide any notes, minutes or e-mails detailing where this was considered and why this was not possible?

- The strategy includes a number of possible infrastructure solutions including: "One approach that has been very successfully adopted in European countries such as the Netherlands is encouraging bicycles and cars to use different roads. One way of achieving this is by closing roads to through traffic where there is a suitable alternative route, particularly shortcuts through residential areas. This could be considered where there is local support"; "Some local authorities have introduced approaches at difficult junctions such as an advanced green light for cyclists or an all-cycle green phase (to avoid cars overtaking bicycles while going through the junction). This could be considered at appropriate locations, taking into account impact on traffic flows and safety for other users"; "One-way streets can present an obstacle to cycling where the alternative is a significantly longer, busier route. Segregated contra flow cycling may provide a solution, where it can be safely accommodated"; "Measures such as removing centre markings and reducing the width of the carriageway have been shown to slow down traffic without the need for enforcement, creating safer conditions for cycling without significantly impacting motorist journey times." Could you please provide any information on if any of these measures have been implemented within Reigate and Banstead? If not can you provide any notes, minutes or e-mails detailing where they were considered and why this was not possible?

- The strategy details "We will also seek to ensure that those commissioning and designing schemes within Surrey County Council's Highways department are suitably trained in the latest best practice in cycle infrastructure design, and seek expert advice as appropriate." Can you please provide information on any outside agencies consulted or specialist training received by those who have been involved in the design and planning of cycle schemes within Reigate and Banstead?

- I understand the council has received support to create a LCWIP. Can you please provide any information held about the development of this plan?

Apologies for the length of the request but I had hoped that it would all be detailed within the public minutes of the board/forum.

Yours faithfully,

William Jessup

Maggie McCormack, Surrey County Council

1 Attachment

Dear  Mr Jessup

YOUR REQUEST REF NO. FOI001903  UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Thank you for your request for information received on the 30 July 2019.
Your request reference is as above.

We will respond to your request promptly and in any event within 20
working days from the date of receipt of your request. If you wish to
contact me to discuss the progress of your request, please use the contact
details given below and quote the reference number given above.  

Kind regards

Maggie Mc Cormack

 

 

Corporate Information Governance Team (Room 138) | Surrey County Council |
County Hall | Penrhyn Road | Kingston upon Thames | Surrey | KT1 2DN

Tel: 020 8541 9130 | Email: [1][email address] |

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FOI/COR/SCC, Surrey County Council

12 Attachments

Dear Mr Jessup

 

YOUR REQUEST REF NO. FOI001903 UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

We have considered your request which was for information relating to our
cycling strategy.

 

Please see our attached response and documents.

 

We supply this information based on your original request. Please do not
hesitate to contact me at the above address if you have any queries
regarding the information supplied.  Remember to quote the reference
number above in any future communications.

 

If you are unhappy with the handling of your request for information and
wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, in the first
instance you should contact the County Council, quoting your request
number given above, at:

 

Freedom of Information Officer

Surrey County Council

Legal & Democratic Services

County Hall

Penrhyn Road

Kingston upon Thames

Surrey

KT1 2DN

[1][Surrey County Council request email]

 

If you are not satisfied by the County Council’s response to your
complaint, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for
a decision.  The Information Commissioner will normally expect you to have
exhausted our complaints procedure.  The Information Commissioner can be

contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

Mrs Mary J Elliott

Freedom of Information Officer

Legal & Democratic Services

(Mondays to Thursdays)

 

Corporate Information Governance Team (Room 138) |  Democratic Services |
Surrey County Council | County Hall | Penrhyn Road | Kingston upon Thames
| Surrey | KT1 2DN

Tel: 020 8541 7969 or 020 8541 9130 (if unavailable) | Email:
[2][Surrey County Council request email]

 

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