The real solution to improving roads is resurfacing/ renewal or reconstructing those that are in a bad condition – rather than coming back to repair potholes that reappear year after year. About 15 years ago the Council launched “Project Horizon” for carriageway and footway upgrades – perhaps named because the horizon is never reached.
Horizon priorities are set on a County-wide basis, based on an engineering assessment of the road (not just the top surface but the underlying structure) and also its usage – traffic volumes, A or B designation, whether it is on a bus route or near a school, and pedestrian footfall etc.
The Residents Association has been successful in diligently promoting our roads for assessment – and while most of the main roads have been addressed, focus now needs to be directed at the smaller residential roads and pavements. Set out below is the Horizon master list for Tattenhams and Preston, showing those tackled in 2022-23 and those scheduled for 2023-24.
| Headley Grove & Staithes Way | Carriageway | Done | |
| Great Tattenhams | Footway | Done | Outside Stanley Lodge |
| Great Tattenhams & St Marks Road | New Drainage | Done | Three new soak aways & fixing existing gullies |
| The Drive | Footway | Done | Picquets Way to end |
| Chetwode Road | Carriageway | 2023-24 | Priority Road for 2023-24 |
| Epsom Lane North | Footway | 2023-24 | |
| Reigate Road | Footway | 2023-24 | West side – West Drive to pedestrian-X to Asda |
| Merland Rise – late addition | Carriageway | 2023-24 | Emergency renewal, rapid deterioration |
| Preston Lane | Carriageway | 2023-24 | |
| Reigate Road – new | Carriageway – pothole prevention scheme | Looking to 2023-24 | From Burgh Heath to Asda/ West Drive |
| Waterer Gardens | Carriageway | 2023-24 | |
| Picquets Way | Footway | 2023-24 |
In the Nork part of the County division, four further schemes were completed in 2022-23, and six are scheduled for 2023-24, with Nork Way already completed.
In future years, the following are on the master list:
| Coxdean | Carriageway |
| Great Tattenhams | Footway (east side) |
| Royal Drive | Carriageway |
| Hatch Gardens | Footway (both sides) |
| Marbles Way | Footway (both sides) |
| Chapel Way | Footway (both sides) |
| Garlichill Road | Carriageway |
| Chetwode Drive | Footway (both sides) |
| Preston Lane | Footway |
No priorities or time scales have yet been set for these schemes; priorities are set annually on a county-wide basis, using the criteria set out above. If you have any further suggestions please contact the councillors and we will arrange for an assessment to be made.
Road funding is a continuing challenge, as unlike most counties, the Council receives no revenue support grant from government. Some highways grants are received but these are shared out nationally on the basis of the total road length. This ignores the volumes of traffic – the major determination of structural deterioration – is much higher in Surrey. The remainder of funding comes from capital borrowing, rather than directly from council tax.
You can see more on the Surrey Project Horizon on the Surrey CC website here.