Ash Level Crossing Decision ‘Was Made Without Approval of Surrey Highways’

Published on: 25 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 1 Dec, 2024

By David Reading

Guildford Borough Council’s controversial proposal to close Ash level crossing several weeks before opening the new road bridge was decided without the approval of Surrey’s Highways Department, according to county councillor Matt Furniss.

Cllr Furniss (Con, Shalford), who is Cabinet member for Transport at Surrey County Council, made his claim clear yesterday (Monday) in a statement on social media in response to residents’ concerns about the proposal.

Update (10.30, November 26) However, GBC has now responded to that claim, saying that a permit for the closure was in fact issued. We are seeking a comment from Surrey County Council and further comment from GBC.

Over the weekend, The Guildford Dragon NEWS reported that the opening of the bridge – scheduled for last Saturday – had been postponed until January, but that Ash level crossing would be closed beforehand – in early December. This left many residents bewildered.

Cllr Matt Furniss

Cllr Furniss’s response says: “I’ve now had confirmation that Surrey Highways have NOT agreed to this proposal…We do not know why it has been communicated without discussion with us as the Highway Authority. Our network co-ordinator for the area is trying to contact the GBC project team to understand why this has occurred.

“SCC doesn’t support the approach outlined in the letter delivered by Guildford Borough Council and are in discussion with the project team.

“The principle we had previously agreed was that the level crossing would not be closed until such time as the bridge was open and in use as the alternative route for the majority of traffic.

“An alternative longer HGV route is proposed also to avoid bridges in the area.”

Cllr Furniss’s Facebook post

Also this afternoon the Conservative MP for Godalming and Ash, Jeremy Hunt, commented as did Cllr Fiona White (Lib Dem, As Vale), lead councillor for planning at GBC.

Although Surrey County Council normally finances highways projects, GBC has financed the Ash road bridge through borrowing and with the help of grants from outside bodies. There were some calls for a bridge years ago but the need came to a head with the construction of hundreds of new homes in Ash which have helped Guildford keep on track to reach its housing target.

The postponement of the opening of the bridge was announced on Friday in a short news release to The Dragon from Guildford Borough Council. This lacked any detailed explanation about why the opening had been put back. In addition the release provided no detailed information about crucial road closures that are about to take place.

These had been revealed to some residents in a letter from the contractors Volker Fitzpatrick announcing the postponement of Phase Five of the project until early December.

This letter states: “Phase five is expected to take approximately nine weeks. This will involve closing the level crossing to motorised traffic and the full-depth reconstruction of Ash Church Road between Britten Close and Foreman Road.”

That section of Ash Church Road will be closed.

There was consternation among affected residents on social media.

One contributor described the situation as “the worst case of planning I’ve ever seen.”

Another made this appeal to Cllr Furniss: “Please can you look into this? Closing the level crossing before opening the bridge seems completely crazy! Especially for nine weeks…. If there’s anything you can do we’d all be grateful!”

The letter to residents lacked any explanation about why the bridge opening had been postponed. No details were released on the proposed new diversion routes, leaving residents to inevitable speculation. There is a feeling that any diversion could be lengthy or hazardous, or both, especially as possible diversionary routes narrow bridges or lack footpaths.