Petworth Road: A Broken Promise from Surrey County Council

When Cllr John Robini was elected to Surrey County Council in 2021, he made it a priority to fix Haslemere’s crumbling roads. Working closely with officers, he developed a plan to tackle the worst of the problem. By 2024, much of the work was done—but one key route was still left behind: Petworth Road.

The Problem

In 2023, local resident Roger Lowry raised serious concerns about the dangerous state of Petworth Road. Surrey Highways confirmed it was already in their forward plan for complete resurfacing.

In 2024, John Robini took action again. He allocated £100,000 from his highways budget—a significant portion of his annual funds—to get the project moving. At the time, he was assured that the resurfacing would be completed that year.

A Year of Delays and Excuses

Throughout 2024, Cllr Robini persistently followed up with Highways, sharing complaints from residents and demanding a start date. In June 2024, the Council even wrote to local residents confirming the works would go ahead.

But just days later, the resurfacing was suddenly cancelled. Why? It turned out that major drainage and water pipe issues had not been addressed—and incredibly, the drainage team had failed to inform the resurfacing team.

Still No Action in 2025

Fast forward to May 2025, and Petworth Road remains in a hazardous state, with potholes and degraded surfaces putting road users at risk. The £100,000 John Robini secured is still ringfenced and cannot be used elsewhere but Surrey County Council refuses to give any clear update.

Worse still, councillors like John are now being blocked from contacting officers directly. This lack of transparency from Conservative-run Surrey County Council is letting down Haslemere residents.

A Small Step Forward—But Not Enough

Thanks to continued pressure from Theresa Meredith-Hardy, Cllr John Robini, and local Lib Dem campaigner Roger Lowry, the story has reached the local press. As a result, Surrey County Council has now committed to resurfacing and drainage works in the 2025/26 financial year.

But let’s be clear: that is not good enough. Residents have already waited too long, and the road grows more dangerous every day.

What Needs to Happen Now

The Liberal Democrats are demanding action. Surrey County Council must:

• ✅ Publish a clear and confirmed timeline for resolving the drainage and resurfacing works
• ✅ Bring forward the works so that Petworth Road is made safe in 2025—not 2026
• ✅ Stop blocking local councillors from doing their jobs and representing their communities

How You Can Help

🚧 Are you a resident affected by this?
📣 Have your say. Write to Surrey County Council.
📨 Share this story with friends and neighbours.
📍 Demand action—before someone gets hurt.

Cllr John Robini and the Haslemere Liberal Democrats are fighting for real investment in our local infrastructure—but we can’t do it alone. Let’s hold the Council accountable and make Petworth Road safe.