The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth Decisions meeting on Tuesday 26 May 2026 addressed three petitions concerning road safety in Headley and at Hickley's Corner. Decisions were made to reinstate centre white lines on certain Headley roads following an increase in collisions and to reduce the speed limit at Hickley's Corner to 40 mph, with the potential for speed and red light cameras. A public question regarding adherence to the Commons Act 2006 was also addressed.

Reinstating Centre White Lines on Headley Roads

A decision was made to reinstate centre white lines on Headley Road, Tilley Lane/Headley Road, and Church Lane in Headley. This decision followed the review of a petition submitted by Jan Schapira, supported by 112 signatures, which requested the reinstatement of these lines to improve road safety. While the council had previously omitted centre lines on these roads, which are less than 5.5m wide, following guidance in the Department for Transport's Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 5, recent data indicated an increase in personal injury collisions. Specifically, data from September 2024 to January 2026 showed a rise in collisions on Headley Road and Tilley Lane/Headley Road compared to the period after the lines were removed in August 2021. The council acknowledged that while the initial removal was based on guidance suggesting potential issues with overrunning on narrow rural roads, the recent collision data necessitated a change in approach. The council stated that reinstating the lines would remove any doubt that future collisions are due to their absence.

Making Hickley's Corner Safer

The meeting considered a petition, signed by 1,607 residents and submitted by Tara Smyth, calling for enhanced safety measures at Hickley's Corner. The petition highlighted three tragic accidents in the preceding four months, including one fatality and two life-changing injuries, attributing these to high vehicle speeds. The petition requested a reduction of the speed limit to 30 mph, the implementation of speed cameras, and the installation of red light cameras.

In response, the council announced that proposals would be brought forward to reduce the speed limit to 40 mph in both directions on the A31 at Hickley's Corner, where the current limit is 40 mph in one direction and 50 mph in the other. This decision was informed by speed surveys and the council's commitment to Vision Zero, aiming for zero road fatalities. Additionally, a bid has been submitted to the Surrey Road Safe Partnership for funding to install red light violation cameras, which could also be used to enforce speed limits if deemed necessary by the police. Other measures already implemented include removing flower troughs to improve visibility, adding louvres to pedestrian signals to prevent confusion, and increasing street lighting around the junction to 100% power throughout the night. A reassessment of traffic signal settings is also planned to better balance provision for pedestrians. Councillor Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, acknowledged the petition's concerns and stated that while the council sympathises with the issues, the infrastructure itself had not changed. He also noted that the police had not raised specific concerns about the infrastructure. Councillor Powell, a member for Farnham, also spoke, expressing concerns about pedestrian and cycling improvements at the junction as part of the A31 project and requested an update from the project team.

Public Question on the Commons Act 2006

A public question was submitted by Bob Higham regarding the council's adherence to the Commons Act 2006 when carrying out works on unregistered common land. The council's response, provided by Councillor Matt Furniss, stated that Surrey County Council recognises its duties under the Act and carefully considers its requirements when undertaking works on land potentially subject to common land controls. The council assesses whether Section 38 consent from the Secretary of State is required for restricted works that impede access or fall within the legislation's definition. If consent is deemed necessary, the council will apply for it. If, after assessment, consent is not required, the council will proceed in accordance with applicable legislation and guidance. The council aims to respond to customer enquiries within 20 working days, with a potential extension to 40 working days for complex or high-volume work.