12.08.43pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th Jun 2006

At today's meeting of the Surrey Police Authority Sue Doughty gained the support of the Chief Constable, Bob Quick in taking steps to reduce the risk of heavy lorries going through Surrey villages if quarrying begins at Eashing Farm.

She was particularly concerned about the frequent blockages of the A3 in the area around Eashing farm which she fears will result in lorries going through narrow village lanes.

Many parents walk with their children to schools in the Shackleford area and there is a real risk to their safety.

Local residents have calculated that there could be an additional 200 lorries a day joining and leaving the A3.

They are worried that in the event of a blockage on the A3 that traffic would be diverted through the villages leading to gridlock, and potential damage.

The Chief Constable, Bob Quick made it clear that the police will be raising this issue with Surrey County Council and with the Highways department.

They want to ensure that there is an agreement with the contractors that would reduce the risk of lorries going through narrow lanes causing congestion and danger.

This would also include clear signage. The issue will also be brought up at the County Transport and Safety joint meeting.

Sue was also concerned that Satellite Navigation installed in lorries might lead them to take a route through the villages. Eashing, Hurtmore, Shackleford and Compton are all at risk.

Surrey Police will be taking up the whole problem of lorries and SatNav at the next national Roads Policing meeting.

Following the meeting Sue said "There are so many reasons why the plan to dig up Eashing Farm should not go ahead, and we will be working to identify each of them and to make it plain that the whole plan is not sustainable.

Our local villages are desperately worried about the permanent damage which will be done to the environment and the impact on many homes in the area."

Sue asked: "I note that the committee will be discussing Budget Planning during the meeting today, and the Strategic Scorecard which has a section on confident communities.

The increasing use of satellite navigation systems in lorries has been shown to cause additional unwelcome lorry movements away from trunk routes and through unsuitable roads.

There are frequent traffic blockages on the A3 in the vicinity of Eashing.

The Surrey County Council Waste plans makes proposals for minerals extraction at Eashing which will result in an estimated 200 additional lorries per day joining and leaving the A3.

In view of the number of blockages on the A3 at this point, what action will be police be taking to prevent lorries using SatNav to pick routes through villages including over the old and very narrow Eashing Bridge and will they be making representations to Surrey County Council about such proposals."