The Surrey Branch of CPRE has come out strongly against the introduction of on-street charges for short-term parking in Surrey’s towns and villages. The group says that the plans to bring in pay-and-display machines to High Streets could sound the death knell for many small local shops and would further damage the already declining quality of life in Surrey’s villages and small towns.

CPRE Surrey has responded to the County Council’s draft Transport Plan. In its submission, the Branch expresses concern that insufficient attention is given in the Plan to the transport needs of the rural parts of the county. The Branch also questions the draft Plan’s failure to address traffic-related environmental impacts other than air pollution, such as noise and vibration and visual intrusion.

Another significant policy development since the General Election is the new Government’s decision to reverse Labour’s aggressively expansionist aviation policy.