Seven Hills Road closed UPDATE
LATEST UPDATE - at the information session on 27th November SGN nows says it can do the work in 12 weeks starting from 28th December.
The Society's Transport Panel has recently met with SGN (Southern Gas Networks) concerning the proposed closure of Seven Hills Road.
Following the meeting we have detailed the issues as they were explained to us.- The work will include gas main replacement along the entire length of Seven Hills Road which is necessary to meet future demand for Walton and Weybridge residents.
- Whist completing this major work the local gas main for Seven Hills Road residents will also be renewed.
- Other utility companies have been served notice by the council to complete any routine maintenance work scheduled in Seven Hills Road (within the next five years) over the same period.
- Morrisons (the contractors for SGN) will start work on 28th December; the project is likely to take six months.
- As the works will take up a major part of the road width, it is considered that the only practical solution is for a total road closure.
- 24 hour working will not be possible as Seven Hills properties will need to be entered for safety checks on a continual basis as work progresses on local connections. Noise pollution is also a consideration. 24 hour working may be possible on non residential sections of Seven Hills Road; that are not affected by noise pollution and safety issues.
- SGN will provide access to Seven Hills for pupils from the two local schools - Feltonfleet and Notre Dame.
- Traffic congestion during this project is expected to be extremely serious. If you regularly travel on Seven Hills Road or any of the adjoining roads (including Queens Road and Byfleet Road) you may wish to consider alternative travel routes.
- Although both Surrey County Council and Elmbridge Borough Council have known for about a year, communication on this project has been extremely poor. SGN have arranged an information session, which will be open to all at The Hilton Hotel - Seven Hills Road - on Friday 27th November, between 10am and 8pm.
The milestones are:
- Project starts date 28th December, starting at the south part of Seven Hills Road (Hilton Hotel end) and will cross Byfleet Road over the Christmas break.
- After the New Year, Seven Hills Road will be closed (both at the northern entrance from the Queens Road roundabout and southern entrance from Byfleet Road).
- Access to the northern part of Seven Hills Road will be via Burwood Road, through Hersham.
- Diversion notices will be placed on the A3 to divert traffic through Esher. There will be no access from Byfleet Road into Seven Hills Road throughout the project.
- Access to County Garden Centre will be via Burwood Road - a single lane controlled by traffic lights.
- Vehicular access to affected properties will be between 6pm to 7:30am.
- In the south, the project will progress along Seven Hills Road in stages of about 200m.
- Once Seven Hills Road is completed, SCC will resurface the Queens Road roundabout.
- Also on completion, SGN will renew the gas main in Queens Road, between the roundabout and Haines Bridge.
The Transport Panel have been active in challenging the planning assumptions and continue to be involved in trying to improve communications and consultation on this project. There has been a great deal of support and involvement from our MP (Philip Hammond) and many local and county councillors, as well as residents in Weybridge, Walton and surrounding towns. We hope to keep residents updated on the Weybridge Society website as more details become available
23rd Nov 2009
