Peter Stewart

I put on my old winter coat and the cuffs had all literally fallen apart. And I put my hands in the pockets and they tore at the seams. I look like some kind of rag and bone man. This is the Planet Reigate podcast. I'm Peter Stewart. Thank you so much indeed for the loan of your ears. Got so much coming up in our new sequence, which starts right here, right now. So let's get going.

I put on my old winter coat and the cuffs had all literally fallen apart. And I put my hands in the pockets and they tore at the seams. I look like some kind of rag and bone man. This is the Planet Reigate podcast. I'm Peter Stewart. Thank you so much indeed for the loan of your ears. Got so much coming up in our new sequence, which starts right here, right now. So let's get going.

And a Reigate school where a parent believes it's only a matter of time before there's a fatality. We're talking about Sandcross Primary School in Reigate. Apparently, road safety improvements are needed outside. You may know that particular stretch of road. You may think to yourself... Actually, yeah, it can get quite dangerous at times. I've got some specifics coming up in a few moments' time.

And a Reigate school where a parent believes it's only a matter of time before there's a fatality. We're talking about Sandcross Primary School in Reigate. Apparently, road safety improvements are needed outside. You may know that particular stretch of road. You may think to yourself... Actually, yeah, it can get quite dangerous at times. I've got some specifics coming up in a few moments' time.

In fact, Surrey County Council's Road Safety Outside Schools team have agreed they reviewed arrangements outside the school back in 2022. And if you check your diary, you'll find that it's 2024 and Not much seems to have happened thus far because it was decided to wait to see what would happen with the proposed nearby housing development.

In fact, Surrey County Council's Road Safety Outside Schools team have agreed they reviewed arrangements outside the school back in 2022. And if you check your diary, you'll find that it's 2024 and Not much seems to have happened thus far because it was decided to wait to see what would happen with the proposed nearby housing development.

Now, Louise Cleland is one of the parents of children at the school. In fact, Louise tells me she also went to the school herself as a child. And she said that there have already been multiple near misses and knocks over in the last few years. And she says... She's the one that says it's only a matter of time before there's a fatality. So she set up a petition and nearly 140 people have signed it.

Now, Louise Cleland is one of the parents of children at the school. In fact, Louise tells me she also went to the school herself as a child. And she said that there have already been multiple near misses and knocks over in the last few years. And she says... She's the one that says it's only a matter of time before there's a fatality. So she set up a petition and nearly 140 people have signed it.

And that calls for immediate road safety measures. I understand that vehicles regularly and dangerously mount the kerb on the already very narrow footpath. And added that cars can speed down the road, Louise tells me, which has what she says is an unsuitable 30 mile an hour limit. So the county council went in 2022 and it's now 2024. Why has nothing been done?

And that calls for immediate road safety measures. I understand that vehicles regularly and dangerously mount the kerb on the already very narrow footpath. And added that cars can speed down the road, Louise tells me, which has what she says is an unsuitable 30 mile an hour limit. So the county council went in 2022 and it's now 2024. Why has nothing been done?

Well, OK, there's another element to this. There's a local house builder that wants to build around 300 homes, including 65 units of assisted living accommodation, three traveller pitches, a replacement scout hut and a country park on the land next to and surrounding the school. And that application went in in June last year.

Well, OK, there's another element to this. There's a local house builder that wants to build around 300 homes, including 65 units of assisted living accommodation, three traveller pitches, a replacement scout hut and a country park on the land next to and surrounding the school. And that application went in in June last year.

So we've got something happening in 2022, something else happening in 2023. So why don't we yet know about this proposed development and what's that got to do with safety measures outside the school? Well, Surrey County Council said the road needed improvements, but a decision on that planning application is decided by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and they've yet to make a decision.

So we've got something happening in 2022, something else happening in 2023. So why don't we yet know about this proposed development and what's that got to do with safety measures outside the school? Well, Surrey County Council said the road needed improvements, but a decision on that planning application is decided by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and they've yet to make a decision.

So there are often deals between councils and developers. It's through the community infrastructure levy.

So there are often deals between councils and developers. It's through the community infrastructure levy.

and that means that if they say yes to a new estate for example then the builders have to usually have to put in other infrastructure as well in this case it might be something to do with the road safety but it seems the problem now is they're waiting for that application and then the build to come And even when the homes are built, even more pupils may come to the school.

and that means that if they say yes to a new estate for example then the builders have to usually have to put in other infrastructure as well in this case it might be something to do with the road safety but it seems the problem now is they're waiting for that application and then the build to come And even when the homes are built, even more pupils may come to the school.

But if the estate isn't built, and we don't know the decision on that yet, then road safety measures may have been put in without the additional number of kids. And the County Council says that would be about £100,000, £200,000 more. which would be, inverted commas, wasted.

But if the estate isn't built, and we don't know the decision on that yet, then road safety measures may have been put in without the additional number of kids. And the County Council says that would be about £100,000, £200,000 more. which would be, inverted commas, wasted.