Residents are divided over a plan to introduce a bus gate on Thornhill Road in West Tolworth which has caused a strong divide within the neighbourhood.

Some in the area are all for the scheme, saying it will solve a number of problems, while others believe it is a flawed plan.

From the end of November, motorists who previously used Thornhill Road to travel between the A243 Hook Road and Red Lion Road or the surrounding streets, will be forced to find alternative routes or face a hefty fine as a new experimental bus gate is installed.

It is all part of Kingston Council's widening of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme, which the authority says is designed to alter drivers' behaviour by dramatically increasing motorists' journey times and displace traffic away from residential areas, thereby making local streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Council officials have recommended councillors to approve the bus gate during tonight's (Thursday, 29 September) meeting of the Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee.

A strong advocate of the proposal is local resident Alex Saltmarsh who disputes claims that the gate will significantly increase traffic on some local roads and cause problems for residents.

He is in direct opposition to Ben Wilson, a resident of Malvern Road, Mr Wilson has quoted the traffic increase in his street being around 400 per cent. 

That, says Mr Saltmarsh, is simply playing with statistics to make a point while the reality is nowhere near as dramatic.

He told Kingston Nub News: "Any increase would be from about three a day to 12 a day. There has been an actual 33% increase in traffic on Thornhill Road since the Tolworth Roadblock went in? Our road is busier. 

"We have thousands of cars every day using our road and a big percentage of that is non local traffic using it as a rat run. 

"The council have pitted road against road. It's a virtual war over here at the moment and the meeting at the Guildhall tonight will be a very tense affair." 

The counter argument is put by Malvern Road residents.

Janice Haley, who has lived on Malvern Road for more than 30 years, said: "The intention of the bus gate is to introduce a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN). Malvern Road currently has levels of traffic equivalent with the aims of the LTN and is considered a safe and pleasant road. The bus gate would result in a dangerously high increase in traffic volume – achieving the opposite of an LTN and compromising the safety of residents and pedestrians at the same time! This is especially for people using the alleyway or trying to cross near the blind bend."

Emma Beers, who grew up on Malvern Road and recently moved back there to raise her family, said: "If the council was genuine about the bus gate being to encourage more people to walk, cycle or use public transport they would be doing more to enhance Malvern Road as a safer and healthier alternative to the busy A243 Hook Road – it's is already used by lots of people every day, including many elderly and disabled residents.

"Instead, they're going to increase the traffic in both directions, making it harder for people to safely cross and increasing pollution. What's their real motivation; is this really about the environment or just a money grab from bus gate fines?"