Concerns are being raised over road and bridge schemes that are planned and then don’t happen and the knock on effect for small businesses in the area.

First example of this was at Brighton Road/Maple Road/Balaclava Road junction where there are some improvements to the junctions to allow a smoother flow of traffic.

• weekend 28 Feb/1 Mar – parking restrictions outside shops in Brighton Road. No works take place as TfL cancel day before. Parking restrictions remained in place all weekend.
• weekend 7/8 Mar – parking restrictions outside shops in Brighton Road. Minimal works take place as RBK Contractor did not attend or give notice.
• week starting 16 Mar – works to footway and carriageway widening start. Cycle lane suspended and one parking space restricted.

Overlapping with this example was the King Charles Road bridge works to strengthen the bridge.

• 17 Feb – informed that the bridge was to be closed to cars for essential bridge repairs by Network Rail. Works were expected to be from 23 Feb to 19 Apr. Advance notice signs were put in place.
• 19 Feb – informed that the works had been delayed by Network Rail as there was a ‘delay in obtaining permissions to work from the railway track’.
• 5 Mar – informed that the bridge was to be closed to cars for essential bridge repairs by Network Rail. Works were expected to be from 16 Mar to 3 May. Advance notice signs were put in place.
• 16 Mar – parking restrictions were put in place outside the shops on Berrylands Road. No works start.
• 17 Mar – informed that the works had been delayed again by Network Rail. Works no longer considered urgent and expected to start in September 2015. Parking restrictions lifted.

I’ve raised the lack of clarity for residents and businesses on both these concerns with the Director. I’ve asked that parking restrictions outside small businesses be kept to a minimum as much as possible and that RBK must complaint when let down by our own contractors, TfL or Network Rail in the strongest terms.

says Councillor Malcolm Self, Chair of Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee