Easing bin lorry rules poses 'serious safety risk'

Plans to lift restrictions on bin lorries driving along roads used by children walking to school would lead to more accidents, according to objectors.

Elmbridge Borough Council has proposed removing restrictions on HGVs using narrow streets near Cranmore Primary and Esher High from 08:00 to 09:00 GMT and 14:45 to 15:45 on school days.

The council said it needs to relax the measures "to keep waste services running smoothly and efficiently" – but opponents say the plans would exacerbate traffic issues.

Campaigner Denise Pavey said: "There are lots of angry and incredulous people. The council keeps trying to push and push. It's very frustrating and they hope the residents will just stop fighting."

Under the council plans, HGVs would be allowed along Douglas Road and The Woodlands, near the Esher depot in Mill Road, from 06:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Saturday, and until 18:00 on Sundays.

Hundreds of objections have already been filed against the application, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

One objector wrote that the plan "poses a serious safety risk to children and families" while another added that roads are "already extremely busy during school drop off and pick up times".

A council spokesperson said: "The current restrictions make it very difficult to complete all scheduled rounds with the number of vehicles and staff agreed in the contract and does not reflect the actual operation of the site.

"If we don't update these conditions, the new waste contractor will need to add more vehicles and staff to finish the same work in shorter hours."

The application is open for public consultation on the council's website and will be considered later in 2026.

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