New pavements/cycle lanes in Walton on Thames are DANGEROUS!!!
513 Comments
M
Mark Smith
10 years ago
No parking anymore outside shops such as Unity Motors. Roads are now dangerously narrow. Cyclists not using as it's easier and safer to ride on the towpath between the bridge and the leisure centre. A total waste of money and only there to make the council look green.
C
Charlie christie
10 years ago
Waste of money,dangerous to pedestrians cyclists and drivers
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
Cyclists are NOT using this. WASTE OF MONEY AND DANGEROUS
K
K J E Batstone
11 years ago
This awful scheme makes the pavements FAR more dangerous for pedestrians!
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
I guess all residents had the opportunity to comment on the proposal at the planning stage. However it really had to be built to understand the issues. I have seen heavy earth moving lorries brushing past the cyclists in Terrace Road. There is no doubt that it is only a matter of time before another cyclist loses their life on the roads of Walton. I would ask the Elmbridge Council to run a full risk assessment on this situation as it stands I.e. Severity of outcome (death) x likleyhood of occurrence (100%) x frequency of risk (how many cyclists on the road on a daily basis) = a lot and wouldn't pass any assessment run by a road planning group.
B
Bob Swaddle
11 years ago
Having read the article on this subject in the Surrey Comet last week, I also wish to protest at what I regard as a hare brained scheme which makes Walton on Thames something of a nightmare for both vehicular traffic and cyclists.
M
Mrs R, Mr G Ingram
11 years ago
As pedestrians and drivers (part time cyclists!) have found the new widening of footpaths ill thought out and so annoying.
What a total waste of our monies. Annoyed household of six!!!
A
ann tarrant
11 years ago
A complete waste of money, this is causing more traffic congestion in Walton and the roads are now so narrow they are dangerous. The numerous amounts of cyclists we have on our roads can't use these new cycle lanes so they continue to use the roads causing even more congestion as they can't be passed safely. It would have been so much better to have cycle lanes on the existing road. I know of a motorist who had to mount the pavement, nearly knocking over a pedestrian to let an emergency vehicle pass.
L
Louise Roberts
11 years ago
Completely agree. It's a nightmare. And lots of Surrey/Elmbridge roads like driving on ploughed fields there are so many potholes. Money could have been put to better use there. Narrower roads makes it very dangerous to try and pass cyclists.
D
David Sladek
11 years ago
Of course, I meant the junction of Bridge Street and Hepworth Way in the second paragraph
D
David Sladek
11 years ago
The latest changes on the Walton Bridge junction, especially the new traffic aisle on Oatlands Drive, is another example of how this project lacks any logical planning. Lorries turning from the bridge right onto the Oatlands Drive will sooner or later destroy either their vehicles or the aisle itself.
On top of this, I have already contacted Surrey council with regards to approach to Terrace road from Bridge street, which has been made even more dangerous and more frustrading by narrowing the Bridge street junction to only one lane. Two months later I am still awaiting response.
M
Matt Coughlan
11 years ago
Dangerous to everyone! Completly pointless
A
Adam Hartigan
11 years ago
In my view someone in the council should lose their job over this. Plain and simply put it is DANGEROUS. I am cyclist runner and driver and feel that my safety on these stretches of road have been severely compromised. Cars are often parked on the cycle path rendering them useless. The roads are far to Narrow for drivers to be able to overtake cyclists safely and there is not enough room for larger vehicles to pull out. Where was the initial consultation with cyclists and road users? The quality of workmanship is also appalling.
T
toni waters
11 years ago
They are pointless, and have made the road more dangerous
M
Mark Hover
11 years ago
One of the most stupid wastes of money I have ever seen. All it has done is made Walton one gigantic bottleneck that is a motoring hazard for both cyclists and drivers alike !
A
Al Orchard
11 years ago
I couldn't agree more! I have not seen any cyclists using the new cycle path and I can't say I blame them! Not only are there lots of side roads to cross, but in places the cycle path just ceases to exist or is blocked by people parking their cars entirely on the pavement as they now can’t park in the road any more - what are the cyclists supposed to do? I live in Carlton Road and trying to turn left out of Sandy Lane in any kind of car is now nearly impossible without crossing the white line in the middle of the road and meeting oncoming traffic, which now doesn't have anywhere to go to avoid you as the road is so narrow! Whoever thought this would be a good idea clearly does not either drive a car or ride a bicycle! Couldn't the council have used the money wasted on this project to do something useful like repair the road surfaces properly - not just putting a blob of tarmac in the holes? Are they going to make the cycle race participants use the cycle path on the 2nd of August?
J
June Tilbury
11 years ago
This scheme has not made the roads safer for cyclists and has made access for emergency services more difficult due to increased traffic congestion.
T
Teresa Bell
11 years ago
What a waste of public money. This hasn't been thought through, and is very dangerous.
M
Michael Scroxton
11 years ago
why couldn't the towpath be upgraded as a cycle track?
L
Lorraine Carthew
11 years ago
It's ridiculous these paths and I also agree that cyclists will not use them, why didn't they paint a cyclist lane on the existing road and use the money to improve the roadways!
No parking anymore outside shops such as Unity Motors. Roads are now dangerously narrow. Cyclists not using as it's easier and safer to ride on the towpath between the bridge and the leisure centre. A total waste of money and only there to make the council look green.
Waste of money,dangerous to pedestrians cyclists and drivers
Cyclists are NOT using this. WASTE OF MONEY AND DANGEROUS
This awful scheme makes the pavements FAR more dangerous for pedestrians!
I guess all residents had the opportunity to comment on the proposal at the planning stage. However it really had to be built to understand the issues. I have seen heavy earth moving lorries brushing past the cyclists in Terrace Road. There is no doubt that it is only a matter of time before another cyclist loses their life on the roads of Walton. I would ask the Elmbridge Council to run a full risk assessment on this situation as it stands I.e. Severity of outcome (death) x likleyhood of occurrence (100%) x frequency of risk (how many cyclists on the road on a daily basis) = a lot and wouldn't pass any assessment run by a road planning group.
Having read the article on this subject in the Surrey Comet last week, I also wish to protest at what I regard as a hare brained scheme which makes Walton on Thames something of a nightmare for both vehicular traffic and cyclists.
As pedestrians and drivers (part time cyclists!) have found the new widening of footpaths ill thought out and so annoying. What a total waste of our monies. Annoyed household of six!!!
A complete waste of money, this is causing more traffic congestion in Walton and the roads are now so narrow they are dangerous. The numerous amounts of cyclists we have on our roads can't use these new cycle lanes so they continue to use the roads causing even more congestion as they can't be passed safely. It would have been so much better to have cycle lanes on the existing road. I know of a motorist who had to mount the pavement, nearly knocking over a pedestrian to let an emergency vehicle pass.
Completely agree. It's a nightmare. And lots of Surrey/Elmbridge roads like driving on ploughed fields there are so many potholes. Money could have been put to better use there. Narrower roads makes it very dangerous to try and pass cyclists.
Of course, I meant the junction of Bridge Street and Hepworth Way in the second paragraph
The latest changes on the Walton Bridge junction, especially the new traffic aisle on Oatlands Drive, is another example of how this project lacks any logical planning. Lorries turning from the bridge right onto the Oatlands Drive will sooner or later destroy either their vehicles or the aisle itself. On top of this, I have already contacted Surrey council with regards to approach to Terrace road from Bridge street, which has been made even more dangerous and more frustrading by narrowing the Bridge street junction to only one lane. Two months later I am still awaiting response.
Dangerous to everyone! Completly pointless
In my view someone in the council should lose their job over this. Plain and simply put it is DANGEROUS. I am cyclist runner and driver and feel that my safety on these stretches of road have been severely compromised. Cars are often parked on the cycle path rendering them useless. The roads are far to Narrow for drivers to be able to overtake cyclists safely and there is not enough room for larger vehicles to pull out. Where was the initial consultation with cyclists and road users? The quality of workmanship is also appalling.
They are pointless, and have made the road more dangerous
One of the most stupid wastes of money I have ever seen. All it has done is made Walton one gigantic bottleneck that is a motoring hazard for both cyclists and drivers alike !
I couldn't agree more! I have not seen any cyclists using the new cycle path and I can't say I blame them! Not only are there lots of side roads to cross, but in places the cycle path just ceases to exist or is blocked by people parking their cars entirely on the pavement as they now can’t park in the road any more - what are the cyclists supposed to do? I live in Carlton Road and trying to turn left out of Sandy Lane in any kind of car is now nearly impossible without crossing the white line in the middle of the road and meeting oncoming traffic, which now doesn't have anywhere to go to avoid you as the road is so narrow! Whoever thought this would be a good idea clearly does not either drive a car or ride a bicycle! Couldn't the council have used the money wasted on this project to do something useful like repair the road surfaces properly - not just putting a blob of tarmac in the holes? Are they going to make the cycle race participants use the cycle path on the 2nd of August?
This scheme has not made the roads safer for cyclists and has made access for emergency services more difficult due to increased traffic congestion.
What a waste of public money. This hasn't been thought through, and is very dangerous.
why couldn't the towpath be upgraded as a cycle track?
It's ridiculous these paths and I also agree that cyclists will not use them, why didn't they paint a cyclist lane on the existing road and use the money to improve the roadways!