Motorists in a Surrey town could soon be hit with on-the-spot fines of up to £100 for sounding their car horns excessively, under new council plans aimed at curbing anti-social behaviour.
Council Proposes Crackdown on Noise and Pavement Parking
Tandridge District Council has submitted an application for a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) following what it describes as 'repeated reports' of problematic driver conduct in the Caterham Valley area. The authority, led by the independent 'Resident's Alliance', says vehicles including cars, lorries, mopeds, and e-scooters have been persistently mounting and parking on pavements, causing harm to pedestrians.
The proposed PSPO would cover parts of Croydon Road and Godstone Road, all of Station Avenue, and the service road for Waitrose and Lidl car parks. While the primary focus is on pavement misuse, the council has also included 'excessive horn honking' within the scope of the new rules.
The specifics of what constitutes 'excessive' use would be defined during a further three-month consultation period, should the initial proposal get the green light. If approved, offenders could face a fixed penalty notice of £100, reduced to £60 for early payment.
Mixed Reaction from Caterham Residents and Businesses
The plans have sparked a divided response from the local community. Pet shop worker Lindsey Wells, 40, who works near a roundabout, branded the honking fines as 'unnecessary'.
'We do get a lot of honking because we are next to a roundabout,' she said. 'The honking fines are unnecessary - because honking is for safety. People honk to alert others to their presence. It is needed.'
However, local business owner Paula Nicholson supports the PSPO, citing issues with loading and buses. 'People park in the bus stop and then the bus drivers come along and honk, honk, honk. They have blocked the whole road up before,' she explained.
Other concerns were raised about the impact of recent parking changes. Charity shop worker Emma Lang, 49, noted a drop in donations since new parking bays were installed, making it harder for people to stop outside. Meanwhile, long-term resident Jasmine Alexander, 68, argued that fines for a first offence were 'a bit harsh'.
Next Steps and Wider Issues
Residents did highlight support for one aspect of the order: penalising the misuse of disabled parking bays. Ms Alexander recounted an incident where a woman with mobility issues could not find a bay because they were all occupied by people without blue badges.
The proposal follows a six-week public consultation which closed on December 31, 2025. The evidence and next steps will be considered by the council's Community Services Committee on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
A council spokesperson stated: 'The Council cannot pre-empt the committee's decision. If the recommendation to proceed is approved, there will be a further three month period to define the detailed terms of the PSPO... Any such measures would be clearly defined, proportionate and subject to further consideration before being introduced.'
The final decision will involve discussions between Tandridge District Council, Surrey Police, and Surrey County Council.
