Historically, Surrey Has Been Far More Generous Than Most UK Highway Authorities in Terms of Installing, Maintaining and Filling Grit Bins

Grit Bin

Church Lane, Shere, Junction with Church Hill on verge opposite Virginia Cottage (next to pub)

Please see below – this applies to just the one grit bin (above) the other was taken over by SPC last August.

Historically, Surrey has been far more generous than most UK Highway Authorities in terms of installing, maintaining and filling grit bins. Against this background, SCC decided, some years ago, that all of the thousands of existing bins would be given a points score based on factors such as the level of traffic, whether the location was on a slope and/or bend etc. Any bin that scored less than a certain number of points would be removed unless the local Councillor agreed to pay for its retention from the limited funding available to him/her (previously called Community Pride).

I attach a spreadsheet showing a number of bins which have been subject to a 4 yearly review and have scored too few points to be automatically retained. You will see that 2 of these bins are in the Shere Parish area. Basically, I can only get these bins retained if I agree to spend £617 for each from the limited funding that will be available for minor local maintenance works in the whole of the Shere Division (£33.5K in 2021/22).

Under these circumstances, could you please consult your Members on two questions;

i) In spite of their low point score, do they believe that a bin is still necessary in each of these locations and ii) If they do, would the Parish Council be willing to take over the responsibility of maintaining and filling these bins, rather than our having to spend money that is really intended for minor local highways maintenance. Incidentally, I am conscious that the PC has already kindly taken over responsibility for some other bins.

Thanks and regards

Keith

Keith Taylor Vice Chairman of the Guildford Surrey Joint Committee County Councillor for the Shere Division, which includes Abinger Hammer (part of), Albury, Chilworth, Farley Green, Gomshall, Holmbury St Mary, Little London, Peaslake, St Martha, Send, Shere and West Clandon