Royal Horticultural Society Presents Its Suggestion For M25 / A3 Interchange At Wisley

Published on: 23 Mar, 2018
Updated on: 24 Mar, 2018

Alternative plans for the redesign of the interchange at junction 10 of the M25 and A3 were presented by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) at a packed meeting on Monday this week (March 18).

With Highways England’s six-week public consultation on its plans for the project closing this coming Monday, March 26, the meeting, held at the RHS Garden Wisley, was attended by representatives from Surrey County Council, Guildford Borough Council, Wisley Action Group, local parish councils and Wisley village residents.

Guildford Borough Councillor Colin Cross (standing) next to Cllr David Reeves pictured at the meeting together with several other councillors and residents.

While accepting the overall plans, for the road junction upgrade, the RHS’s highways consultant presented amended plans for Wisley Lane, Ockham. This proposal additional slip roads off the Ockham roundabout and an improved left turn out of Wisley Lane.

Mike Hibbert from The Highways and Transport Consultancy Ltd.

Presenting the RHS alternative plans, Mike Hibbert from The Highways and Transport Consultancy Ltd (TTHC), explained the difference between the Highways England (HE) and RHS solutions.

The latter did not alter the preferred HE Option 14 for the M25/ A3 junction that can be seen at: https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/m25-junction-10-a3-wisley-interchange-improvement/results/pra-leaflet.pdf

Mr Hibbert told the meeting that with the addition of two south-facing slip roads at the Ockham roundabout, together with an improved left turn out of Wisley Lane, incorporating a kilometre-long slip road, there would be significant improvements.

The RHS’s amendment to Highways England’s plans showing (in blue) two south-facing proposed slip roads off Ockham roundabout and an improved left turn with slip road out of Wisley Lane.

The RHS amendment would reduce the amount of A3 northbound traffic from exiting at Burnt Common and then passing through Ripley village and save about 2.7 million miles a year based on 1.2 million vehicles a year entering and exiting Wisley Lane at the A3 junction.

Mr Hibbert spoke of a 780 tonnes per annum reduction in carbon emissions and a further 4.4 tonnes reduction of N2O if HE were to adopt the RHS amendment . He explained that while it would cost an extra £11 million, that cost was still well within the overall budget of about £250 million.

Mr Hibbert raised the issue of road signs. He explained with graphics how the current HE layout would, in the RHS’s opinion, inevitably confuse both motorists and sat nav systems. Motorists travelling north on the A3 would be obliged to drive past the Wisley turning twice as they U-turned at the M25 junction 10 back south only to exit at the Ockham roundabout and then go north again via the new bridge. The RHS amendment would shave around seven miles for each round trip to its Wisley Gardens against the route preferred by HE.

Questions from the audience, predominantly from residents living in Wisley village, raised concerns about the left turn out of Wisley Lane proposed in the RHS amendment. While the recorded number of accidents were currently low at this junction there was concern at the thought of emerging traffic crossing two lanes to head north on the A3 over Junction 10.

In response, Mr Hibbert explained that the amendment was fully compliant with HE policies and included a kilometre-long slip road. He explained that there would be no bus stop or parked lorries to negotiate as currently happens on the slip road.

Cllr Julie Iles.

Commenting on the meeting, Surrey County Councillor Julie Iles said: “RHS Wisley were understandably pleased when they heard that the Highways England proposals were no longer going to decimate the long established redwood trees. Their concerns have now shifted to the extra miles that people will have to travel to access the site if Wisley Lane is blocked off from the A3.

“This will create extra pollution in an area, which already has above the recommended standards for noxious gases. It could deter visitors and it will almost certainly confuse satnav systems. Local traffic will most likely avoid this by accessing through Ripley, which already has significant traffic volumes.”

Ian Symes, the deputy chairman of Effingham Parish Council.

Cllr Ian Symes, the deputy chairman of Effingham Parish Council, added: “I was impressed by the recent presentation at RHS Wisley over the proposals for the new J10 on the M25. The RHS have come up with a set of alternative proposals that Highways England should consider adopting: direct northbound access from RHS Wisley to the A3, two new slip roads onto and off the A3 from the Ockham roundabout.

“The current Highways England proposals overlook the hazards of increased traffic at the Ockham roundabout and significantly more traffic passing through local villages. They also ignore the negative impacts on visitors travelling to RHS Wisley who will have longer and more complicated journeys.

“The RHS’s proposals appear to overcome these problems and I do hope that Highways England will take the RHS’s alternative proposals seriously and give them full consideration.”

Highways England M25/A3 Option 14.

Anyone wishing to add their comments to the HE preferred Option 14 and the RHS amendment can write to Highways England or complete the online survey. There is a free text box in the survey:

https://highwaysengland.citizenspace.com/he/m25-junction-10-a3-wisley-interchange-2018/

Share This Post