Living Streets in Dorking

Dorking

Contact

Andrea Bradley
Contact via Head Office

Dorking is a Surrey town that has the potential to be a place of great interest and beauty. However, it is the intersection of two major roads, and traffic is a huge problem in the town. Following the departure of our previous Contact Dr Fulcieri Maltini,who has now left the UK, we are pleased that Andrea Bradley has taken over as Living Streets local Contact in the town.

Latest News from Dorking

A taster audit took place in the town during March 2006. Local campaigner Andrea Bradley realised that she needed to do something about the threat of traffic in Dorking when two elderly people were crushed by a truck in the town centre three years ago. The incident happened at a crossing that lacked any pedestrian phases and drop kerbs. Since then Andrea has worked tirelessly to draw attention to the dangers of traffic in Dorking.

"The bad news is that despite those tragic deaths, the crossing remains dangerous" commented David Early after his visit to Dorking. "The good news is that local people and council officers were in full agreement that the balance has gone too far towards the needs of traffic in Dorking and that we need to restore a positive balance that puts the rights of people on foot before traffic movement".

During the taster audit, David pointed out how pedestrians are discriminated against. Lack of drop kerbs for physically disabled people, roadspace allocation that allowed two lanes of traffic and car parking, yet a small footway and crossings that are dangerous.

At the end of the taster audit, David gave a brief presentation at the council offices. He said that the problems had built up as a result of decades of thinking that have put vehicles first and outlined what needed to be done. David paid tribute to Andrea Bradley for all the work she has done to promote the rights of people on foot in Dorking.

"It was an interesting and enlightening morning" commented local resident Marion Shoard. Hopefully, the event will lead to a transformation of the attractive and hisotric town centre into a place that people can enjoy on foot without their experience being marred by traffic volume, noise and danger.