Loading bay hours on the Ewell Road cycle route in Surbiton will be amended following objections to the current Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO). The Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee addressed the issue at their meeting on 9 December 2025, after receiving concerns about the loading bay's impact on cyclists. The changes aim to strike a better balance between the needs of cyclists and businesses.
The ETMO, which came into force on 24 November 2024, aimed to improve the cycle route between Langley Road and Oak Hill Crescent. While the removal of kerbside parking was welcomed, the retention of the loading bay with its original operational hours drew criticism. The original operational hours of the loading bay were Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 6.30pm for goods vehicles loading only. Parking was permitted in the bay, uncontrolled, outside of these hours.
Owen Bentley, Project Manager for New Cycle Waste in the borough, explained that the original scheme had a section of shared use between pedestrians and cyclists alongside the shopfronts and retention of parking in the road, which wasn't very well received. He added that the loading bay used to be on the road, but in the new layout, it's mainly on the cycleway. So when it's in use, it effectively blocks the cycleway, and cyclists can go round the back, share with pedestrians.
Seven objections, including one from the Kingston Cycling Campaign (KCC), focused on the loading bay blocking the cycleway and forcing cyclists into the road or pavement. The KCC stated that they:
strongly welcomes the improvement to the cycle route between Langley Road and Crescent and supports the removal of parking along a stretch Ewell Road and replacing it with a separated cycle way (part the order).
However, we object to the allowance of long periods of parking on part of the cycle path. In addition, we object to loading being allowed on the cycle path for up to one hour during peak travel periods (part c) of the order).
The police also raised concerns that the lay-by would force cyclists into the main carriageway, potentially causing collisions.
In response to the objections, the committee recommended amending the restrictions at the loading bay to:
- Goods Vehicles Loading Only
- Monday to Sunday
- Midnight to 7am
- 10am to 4pm
- 7pm to Midnight
- Max stay 30 minutes, no return within 2 hours
Additionally, no waiting or loading will be permitted by any other vehicle at any time. The council believes these changes will strike a better balance between the needs of cyclists and businesses.
The council aims to implement the changes within approximately two months, following the appropriate Traffic Management Order procedures. The amendments will be funded as part of the ongoing Ewell Road Cycleway project.
