Cranleigh High Street Improvements - engagement summary and results

Cranleigh High Street Improvements - engagement summary and results

Introduction

Surrey County Council is aiming to improve Cranleigh High Street to enhance road safety and update public spaces.

Cranleigh Vision

Surrey County Council (SCC) believes there is a lot of opportunity for Cranleigh to thrive and wanted to gain feedback on proposed designs for updating and enhancing some of the public spaces along Cranleigh High Street.

Key benefits proposed included:

• Wider, resurfaced pavements for better accessibility.
• Improved drainage and traffic flow.
• More seating and greenery for better socialising.
• Support for local businesses by encouraging longer visits.
• Better air quality and biodiversity and encouraging active lifestyles.
• Improved signage around the village centre
• Improvements to public transport with new bus shelters

Background

Based on feedback from previous engagement events, we have changed the High Street proposals.

The main changes are:

• We will not be making any changes to the mini roundabout at Village Way
• We will not be removing the pedestrian islands along the High Street, however we want to improve pedestrian crossings whilst ensuring pedestrian islands remain where they are needed
• We will be making safety improvements at Knowle Lane Junction

Engagement

The 2024 Cranleigh High Street Commonplace engagement website was open online from December 2024 and January 2025.

A total of 482 comments were received through the website and paper surveys. This number includes respondents who chose to keep their answers private and did not publish them online. The comments were received across 5 different themes:

1. Improved pedestrian crossing points
2. Improvements to Knowle Lane junction
3. Post Office entrance and pedestrian crossing
4. Pavements and on-street parking
5. Public transport and supporting walking and cycling

Engagement Summary

Timeline

• Monday, 2nd December 16:30 – 20:00  – Engagement event Cranleigh Parish Hall
• Wednesday, 4th December 11:30 – 15:00 – Engagement event Cranleigh Parish Hall
• Wednesday, 4th December 16:00 – 18:45: Business-only event Cranleigh Parish Hall
• Wednesday 4^th – Tuesday 17^th December – Proposals on display at Cranleigh Library and Elmbridge retirement village
• Monday, 9th December – Engagement presentation, Elmbridge Retirement village
• Sunday, 22^nd December – Engagement at Cranleigh Family Park Run
• Thursday, 9th January - Engagement presentation, Cranleigh Youth Council

Summary

The 2024 Cranleigh High Street engagement was conducted in person and online during December 2024 and January 2025. The engagement saw a significant turnout, with around 465 Cranleigh residents and business owners attending the events.

A total of 482 comments were received during the engagement, including 20 paper surveys.

These events provided a platform for the community to share their thoughts and feedback, contributing to the ongoing development and improvement of Cranleigh High Street.

Demographics

The Commonplace site engaged a diverse group of participants with various connections to Cranleigh. Participants could select multiple answers, and among those who responded, the majority (103) were residents of the area, while an additional 30 worked in Cranleigh.

Regarding employment status, nearly half of the respondents were retired (43.8%), 35% were employed full-time, 7.1% part-time, and 8.8% were self-employed.

Most respondents who provided their age were over 55, with the highest response rate from the 65–74 age group (89). The lowest response rate came from those under 24 (10).

In terms of gender, 37% identified as male, 28% as female, 2 respondents identified as other, and the remaining preferred not to disclose their gender.

Theme 1 – Improved pedestrian crossing points

SCC proposed improvements to three pedestrian crossing points along the High Street. Two different options were proposed for the crossing outside Cranleigh Pharmacy, and three options for the crossing outside of Marks & Spencer:

The three different options were:

1. Raised crossing points
2. Introduce road markings on the road which give the illusion of a raised area
3. Zebra crossing (outside Marks & Spencer only)

For the crossing outside Marks & Spencer, which crossing type would you prefer? The results are:

• Option 1 – Raised Crossing point - 85
• Option 2 – Road marking crossing point - 107
• Option 3 – Raised Zebra crossing - 132
• Option 4 – None of the above – 106
• No answer – 52

For the crossing outside Cranleigh Pharmacy, which crossing type would you prefer? The results are:

• Option 1 – Raised Crossing point – 164
• Option 2 – Road marking crossing point - 119
• None of the above - 117
• No answer – 82

Theme 2 – Knowle Lane Junction

SCC want to make safety improvements at the Knowle Lane Junction, making it easier for drivers to navigate and safer for pedestrians to cross. We proposed:

1. Changing kerb lines to help reduce vehicle speeds at the junction
   
   
   • Yes - 197
   • No - 217
   • No response – 68

1. Widening the pavement slightly at the junction to improve visibility for both drivers and pedestrians and making the junction safer

• Yes - 212
• No - 201
• No response – 69

1. To introduce low level, low maintenance planting to deter illegal parking on the corner

• Yes - 198
• No - 219
• No response – 66

1. To improve the existing raised pedestrian area

• Yes - 251
• No – 171
• No response – 61

Theme 3 – Post Office Entrance

We want to improve the existing flooding issues outside the Post Office by the pedestrian crossing. To tackle these issues, we need to raise the pavement by the planter, opposite the cafe.

We proposed to make minor improvements to the Post Office area, including adjusting the kerb line and improving the pavement at the junction with the High Street. These improvements would be beneficial for both pedestrians and drivers.

1. Improve vehicle access

• Yes - 224
• No - 176
• No response – 82

1. Raised crossing point across the road that leads to the post office

• Yes - 253
• No - 161
• No response – 68

1. Raising the footway next to the planter opposite the café

• Yes - 246
• No - 154
• No response – 82

1. For the existing crossing outside the Post Office, which crossing type would you prefer?

• Option 1. Raised Crossing Point – 201
• Option 2. Road Marking Crossing Point – 84
• None of the above – 121
• No response – 76

Theme 4 – Public transport, walking and cycling

We want to help tackle flooding and support the physical and mental well-being of residents by making it easier for people to walk, cycle or use public transport to get into the village centre when able to.

We proposed:

• To reduce the bus layby widths slightly to deter illegal parking in the bus layby and increase the width of the pavement around the bus layby.
  
  
  • Yes – 174
  • No – 248
  • No response – 60  
    
    
• To install a new bus shelter outside the library, to allow passengers waiting for a bus to be sheltered from the weather.
  
  
  • Yes - 382
  • No - 57
  • No response – 43

Theme 5 – Pavements and on-street parking

We proposed 5 different options:

• Option 1: The parking outside WHSmith to be changed into a layby style parking.
  
  
  • Yes – 201
  • No – 218
  • No response – 63  
    
    
• Option 2: Widening the pavement along the High Street by narrowing certain parts of the road.
  
  
  • Yes - 120
  • No - 301
  • No response – 61
    
    
• Option 3: Introducing timed loading bays. Suggested positions: outside of the Fish & Chip shop and Marks and Spencer.
  
  
  • Yes – 202
  • No – 201
  • No response – 76  
    
    
• Option 4: Introducing a timed no loading zone, from Village Way to Marks and Spencer Foodhall, at peak hours.
  
  
  • Yes - 255
  • No - 166
  • No response – 61
    
    
• Option 5: Remove one parking bay outside the Fish & Chip shop.
  
  
  • Yes - 184
  • No - 238
  • No response – 60

Summary

Following this engagement, SCC will respect the views of residents and move into detailed design with the following changes:

• Raised Zebra crossing outside Marks and Spencer
• Raised Crossing point outside Cranleigh Pharmacy
• Widening the pavement slightly at Knowle Lane junction
• Improving the existing raised pedestrian area at Knowle Lane Junction
• Improve vehicle access at the Post Office entrance
• Raise the crossing point across the road that leads to the post office
• Raise the footways near the planters opposite the cafe
• Introduce a raised crossing point at the traffic light crossing outside of the Post Office
• Introduce a new bus shelter outside library
• Introduce a timed no loading zone from Village Way to Marks and Spencer Foodhall, at peak hours.

As the results for introducing timed loading bays outside of the Fish & Chip shop and Marks and Spencer were close in numbers with 202 responses in favour, and 201 against, we are not proposing to add any timed loading bays to the High Street. The proposal to introduce a No Loading zone from Village Way to Marks and Spencer Foodhall, which had more support from residents, will restrict delivery times and help ensure traffic can flow along the High Street without specific loading bays.

Following this engagement, SCC will respect the engagement results and the following changes will not be progressed into detailed design:

• Changing kerb lines at Knowle Lane Junction to help reduce vehicle speeds at the junction
• Introducing low level, low maintenance planting at Knowle Lane junction
• Change the existing bus layby width
• No changes to the parking outside of WHSmith
• Will not be widening the pavements
• Will not be removing one parking bay outside the Fish & Chip shop 

Next Steps

The project team are identifying suitable highway design engineers, who will be developing the detailed designs for each aspect of the High Street proposals. Detailed design will ensure that the current proposals are feasible and allow accurate price estimates to be obtained. This process will take at least 4-5 months to complete. Following the design work, we will work with our contractor to develop a programme of work that minimises disruption to the High Street whilst construction takes place. We will continue to update you via the Commonplace website and will provide further updates when construction is due to start.