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Local Access Roads / Rail Crossings ePetition response

No 10 has responded to the petition 'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that the AirTrack scheme has minimal negative impact on Egham'.
 

Details of Petition:

?The proposed route for AirTrack will close each of Egham?s three main level crossings by between 37 and 44 minutes every hour, cutting Egham in half. There are no sensible alternative roads or pedestrian routes available. This will have a detrimental impact on businesses and residents of Egham, and the surrounding area. It will also have a serious impact on traffic in the area including junction 13 of the M25. AirTrack acknowledges these crossings will ?be significantly affected?. We call on the government to ensure that bridges or tunnels are provided as part of the AirTrack scheme, or if that is not feasible to re-route the track and provide a bridge in a feasible location.?

The Government?s response.....

The Government is aware that local residents and authorities have expressed some concerns about the Airtrack proposal being promoted by BAA which would provide for a new direct rail link connecting Heathrow to the existing rail network to the south and west, including Reading, Guildford and London Waterloo.

BAA has acknowledged the potential effect of extra rail services on road users at level crossings, particularly in the Egham area, and has highlighted the issue in its consultation document and at public meetings.

The Government is looking to BAA, as sponsor of the Airtrack project, to continue to work with local authorities, Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation to develop, and refine, its proposals, taking into account local issues raised through the consultation process - such as those at level crossings. This will include identifying potential changes to the local road network which could mitigate the impact at level crossings, for example bridges or other works.

The scheme is currently under development and will be subject to approval by the Government under the Transport and Works Act.
 

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Do you live, work, socialise, are being educated, shop or travel around the Runnymede and Spelthorne area?
This includes car, bike, van, bus, lorry and cycle users, as well as those who walk!
Then the affects of Airtrack will be detrimental to you. (If you have not yet seen the information please see below) - please add your name to the protest at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/EghamCrossings/

PLEASE GET YOUR VOICE AND VIEWS HEARD BY DOING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING -

1. Attend a consultation meeting -
Saturday 25th October 2008, 10am to 4pm, Staines Community Centre
Thursday 6th November 2008, 12 noon to 8pm, St Giles Hotel, Feltham
Saturday 8th November 2008, 10am to 4pm, Staines
Community Centre

2. Post your comments on the wall on our Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1023971930&ref=profile

3. Phone for a consultation brochure - 020 7529 4910

4. Sign up at our petition on the 10 Downing Street website -
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/EghamCrossings/

5. Contact any/all of the following:
a) MP Philip Hammond - http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/philip_hammond/runnymede_and_weybridge
b) Surrey County Council highways department - sustainable.travel@dft.gov.uk - This is the Sustainable travel section, but please feel free to contact anyone in at the highways department- http://www.dft.gov.uk
c) The Highways Agency - ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk (website: http://www.highways.gov.uk/default.aspx)
d) The Government Office for the South East - transport.gose@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk  (website:  http://www.gose.gov.uk/gose/transport/?a=42496)
e) Spelthorne Borough Council - strategic.director.community@spelthorne.gov.uk
f) Runnymede Borough Council -administration@runnymede.gov.uk

6 . Print off and put up the attached poster wherever you have permission to do so.

7 . Let everyone you know about this.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards from Anna Barry
Administrator, Egham Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 01784 460108
Email: admin@eghamchamber.org.uk
Website: www.eghamchamber.org.uk
Address: c/o Strode?s College, Egham, TW20 9DR

WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Airtrack have begun the next phase of their ?consultation process? on the new rail link from Heathrow westwards. They?ve been sending brochures to residents and business in Staines, and inviting them to public exhibitions in Staines, Stanwell and Feltham.
BUT They have apparently no plans to consult with businesses, residents or other stakeholders in Egham. This despite the fact the biggest impacts of the project will be on Egham?s roads, since 3 of the 4 worst affected level crossings on the route are in Egham. They admit this in the consultation brochure (page10) but on the same page they write that they ?have concluded that it is not feasible or justifiable? to build bridges or tunnels at these crossing.
We have been told that if Airtrack proceeds the level crossing at Egham Station will be down for 44 minutes per hour, at Pooley Green for 39 minutes per hour and at Thorpe Road for 37 minutes per hour. This won?t just affect Egham: the impact on the surrounding roads, with drivers finding alternative routes, will affect the whole of the area. Are you prepared to put up with this?

PASS THIS ON to all your contacts please: We need as much support as possible if we are to get our bridge.