Plans to remove pedestrian crossing from outside station entrance (From This Is Local London)

Plans to remove pedestrian crossing from outside Epsom station entrance

12:54pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Hardeep Matharu

Surrey County Council's plans for the future of Station Approach, Epsom

Surrey County Council (SCC) is proposing to remove the pedestrian crossing outside Epsom station once the station development is completed. 

SCC’s highways engineers have consulted with councillors, taxi drivers, bus representatives, the police, train company Southern, and Epsom Council, to develop a new road layout for Station Approach.
 

The aim is to find a solution which best meet the needs of buses, taxis and loading facilities for businesses and residents.

SCC is proposing to remove the pedestrian crossing outside the station entrance and close the gap in the central reserve - with the extra space being used to create space for buses and taxis outside the station entrance.

The plans include space for three taxi ranks - one directly outside the station entrance and two across the road.

Black-cab drivers contacted the Epsom Guardian two weeks ago demanding SCC listen to their claims that the current location of their taxi rank - just up the road across from the station entrance - is costing them a fortune. 

They were concerned about plans to keep the rank in the same position, with SCC only offering spaces for three cabs directly ouside the station entrance, and had started a petition against this.

SCC's proposals also provide space for loading facilities outside the new shops in the station, and would see the existing crossing at the junction of Waterloo Road widened and improved.

To comment on the proposals, by March 4, email highways@surreycc.gov.uk, write to: SCC Highways, Rowan House, Merrow Lane, Guildford, GU4 7BQ, or call 0300 200 1003.

• Click here for a larger view of the proposal

Are you in favour of removing the pedestrian crossing? Leave a comment below.