Since my election as the county councillor for Walton South & Oatlands, I have been questioning Surrey County Council on the need to move the crossing and working through alternative ideas. My immediate response in May was to ask SCC to pay for a scheme of planting around Walton to compensate for the loss of the cherry trees; SCC officers have now agreed to some planters being placed along the High Street and they are working with EBC to produce a 'greening' scheme for a wider Walton area.
Clearly there was insufficient consultation and communication with residents before the three trees were lopped on the Heart side. However, moving the crossing, and the necessity of removing the trees, was known about by county and local councillors a couple of years before the action was taken. However, we need to move on from looking to cast any blame and move towards a sensible way forward. Here are the salient points:
However, I believe a credible way forward which would save the two remaining trees would be as follows:
This then effectively shifts the new crossing across the road to save the trees and provide the necessary safety to drivers and those using the crossing.
If you support this idea, please make your views known on the SCC Consultation website:
Cllr Ashley Tilling
Walton South & Oatlands