Weybridge train station crossing - engagement results

Summary of the results of the public engagement on the proposed pedestrian crossings near Weybridge train station

Introduction and background

Surrey County Council is proposing to introduce two pedestrian crossings on Brooklands Road, near Weybridge train station. Currently there is an informal crossing point.

The area is very busy, especially during peak hours, with people accessing the train station as well as nearby bus stops. It has long been reported that the area needs looking at to be made safer for pedestrians.

While the informal crossing points are acceptable for people without impaired mobility, they are less safe for people with impaired mobility, or the elderly, or people with buggies or pushchairs.

Therefore, the proposal is to replace the informal crossing point with two zebra crossings. This will improve pedestrian safety by reprioritising the space.

To gauge the level of support for the new crossings, a short engagement exercise was conducted. This report details the methodology and results of the engagement.

Public engagement

The public engagement was launched on 18 August and closed on 21 September.

Methodology

Commonplace (engagement website) was used as the main platform for capturing feedback from residents, stakeholders and businesses. 

The commonplace site hosted a short description of the proposals along with a map of the proposed crossings. 

There were then three short questions for people to answer. 

1. Do you support the proposal to add two zebra crossings on Brooklands Road near Weybridge train station?

Yes/ No options

1. Do you support improving pedestrian safety around Weybridge train station?

Likert scale, 1-5 with options ‘Yes, definitely; Yes, a little bit; Not sure; No, not really; No, definitely not’

1. Do you have any other comments about the proposals? If so, please write them in the box below.

Open text box for free answers

Promotion

The engagement was promoted via

• Social media, posted on NextDoor (geo targeted to Weybridge area) and Facebook. 
• Surrey Highways e-newsletter, sent to 18,696 subscribers on 23 August. The article had an open rate of 63.71% overall and generated 286 clicks through to the engagement website.
• Commonplace news/ email item, sent to 1144 subscribers on 19 August
• Weybridge Society website and social media (Proposed new pedestrian crossings by Weybridge train station)
• Surrey Live article (Road crossings planned outside Weybridge station as current situation deemed 'not as safe' for some | Surrey Live)

In addition, details of the engagement were widely shared in local Facebook groups by residents and local councillors. 

Results

There were 450 responses received in total through the online platform. 

The result for each question is broken down, showing the number and percentage for each option, and the total number of responses for that question. As the questions were not compulsory, not everyone answered each question. The data is also shown in graph format and there's a summary of the responses from the open-ended question at the end. 

1. Do you support the proposal to add two zebra crossings on Brooklands Road near Weybridge train station? 

The response is quite clear, with just under three quarters of people supporting the proposal to change the informal crossing to formal crossing points for pedestrians. 

2. Do you support improving pedestrian safety around Weybridge train station?

Overall, 84% of respondents are supportive improvements to pedestrian safety near Weybridge train station, with only 8.3% saying they are not supportive.

Open-ended responses summary

In total, there were 272 comments. Of the 335 people who support the proposal to introduce pedestrian crossings, 174 (52%) of them provided additional comments. Of the 115 people who do not support the proposal 98 (85%) provided additional comments in their response.

Comments from people who support the proposal to install two zebra crossings were overwhelmingly positive, with the main view being that this was long overdue as the junction is dangerous, and that it will significantly improve safety for pedestrians, especially commuters, school children, families, older residents and those with reduced mobility.

Many also commented that the proposals did not go far enough and that the junction needed a more comprehensive redesign to further improve pedestrian safety and that more crossings should be added in the vicinity.

Some expressed a preference for pelican over zebra crossings. There was some concern about increasing congestion, but conversely, some felt that congestion would be eased as pauses in traffic would make it easier for cars to pull out at the junction. 

There were a few concerns expressed about poor driver behaviour, such as speeding, with suggestions for speed bumps or reduced speed limits to help this. And a few concerns about visibility and placement of the proposed crossings. 

Of those who opposed the proposal to install two zebra crossings, most comments were concerned about increased congestion in the area and/ or that the proposed crossing is in the wrong location. 

There is also a concern that the zebra crossings will make it less safe for pedestrians, and the belief that the existing informal crossing points are adequate. 

In common with the comments from people who support the proposed new crossings, some commented that the whole junction needs to be looked at and that this proposal will not fix the underlying issues in the area. Again, in common with those who support the crossings, there were some suggestions that pelican crossings would be better than zebra crossings. 

Some alternative solutions were suggested, such as a footbridge, or pedestrian crossings located elsewhere. 

There was some concern about the project being a waste of public money, along with concern about the disruption further roadworks in the area would create. 

Conclusion

Overall, the proposals were supported and therefore this work will proceed. 

Further information will be provided nearer the time regarding the timescales for the installation of the pedestrian crossings. Please check the website for updates.