A traffic survey in Caterham- on-the-Hill by the recently formed Action Group to Resist Overdevelopment (AGRO) has left residents reeling at the volume of traffic measured in just eight hours. As part of its mission to collect data relevant to future developments in Caterham-on-the-Hill and Chaldon, the group conducted the traffic count on Monday 18th October at the Clifton Arms roundabout at the junction of Chaldon Road and Coulsdon Road. Caterham-on-the-Hill Parish Councillor, Mary Mountain, said: "It was so busy. There were a hundred cars every ten minutes on my road alone. This junction appears to be operating at capacity during the morning and evening rush hours."

The final tally for the hours measured was over 8,500 vehicles. The group believes it is not unreasonable to assume that in the other 16 hours another 4,000 vehicles would travel along these roads. Allowing for these volumes to halve at weekends, this gives 75,000 traffic movements a week or nearly four million every year.

District Councillor David Gosling said: "Recent national reports are that traffic volumes are down between 10 and 20 per cent due to the recession, and some local schools were on half-term, so these figures understate the true position. "Any development around this area, e.g. Oaklands House, The Clifton Arms, and the former Aon offices, will have to pay close attention to these alarming statistics. This survey really demonstrates the value of getting first-hand information."

AGRO intend to do further research into traffic volumes as well as the impact that further building development in this area would have both on the community and the environment.