Spotlight on South Street

 

What's wrong with South Street?

Three lanes of fast-moving traffic create an unfriendly environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cyclists heading for the High Street from South Street have to take the centre lane - this can be intimidating for less experienced cyclists.

The fact that this street is one-way means that people from the West Hill area cannot reach the Playhouse or Dorking Road without a major diversion around the town centre.  This is particularly onerous for cyclists.
South Street Vehicles stop outside the shops, sometimes legally, sometimes illegally.

As the photo shows, vehicles proceeding in the correct lane for their destination then have to swerve into the centre lane.

This potentially dangerous situation could be avoided by re-arranging the street with properly designed loading bays.
The Epsom Playhouse There are no pedestrian signals on the crossing of South Street by the Playhouse.

The signal is constantly green for traffic proceeding northwards along South Street.
The Marquis of Granby Pedestrians crossing at the junction of South Street with West Street and the High Street have to do so in two stages.

This inconveniences pedestrians and inevitably exposes them to danger when they decide not to wait for the second green man.

The profusion of signal heads does little to improve the townscape!

What's Happening about South Street?

Surrey's Local Transport Plan for Epsom & Ewell in 2004/05 includes £10,000 for studying the  feasibility of redesigning the layout and providing improved cycle and pedestrian facilities at the junctions of South Street and Ashley Avenue, South Street and West Street and Ashley Road and Ashley Avenue.