Ash Level Crossing Row: GBC Rejects Cabinet Member’s Statement As ‘Factually Incorrect’

Published on: 26 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 26 Nov, 2024

By David Reading

The storm over the proposed closure of the Ash level crossing has continued today (Tuesday) with a sharp disagreement between Guildford Borough Council and a leading county councillor.

Cllr Matt Furniss, who is Cabinet member for Transport at Surrey County Council, which is controlled by the Conservatives, was accused by GBC of issuing a statement that was “factually incorrect” – an accusation rejected by Cllr Furniss.

The issue began late last week when it emerged that Guildford Borough Council, under the Liberal Democrats, had postponed the opening of the Ash road bridge until January and proposed to close the level crossing several weeks beforehand – in early December.

This proposal was conveyed to some residents in a letter from the contractors, provoking a bewildered reaction on social media. People are concerned there will be traffic mayhem and long diversions.

In his response yesterday, Cllr Furniss said on social media: “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.”

He added: “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.”

Cllr Furniss’s statement was reported in The Guildford Dragon NEWS and immediately led to a furious reaction today from GBC – who said that Cllr Furniss’s statement was “factually incorrect”.

Seeking to clarify the matter, a GBC spokesperson said: “Our contractor, Volker Fitzpatrick Limited (VFL), had discussed with and obtained a permit from Surrey County Council (SCC) for the diversion route (permit number MA27805900-GUI-ACR-02) on 4 November. This was available, and showed as granted on SCC’s website at the time at which the Facebook post was made.

A copy of an email provided by GBC to support their claim that a permit for the road closure was issued by SCC. There is no mention in the email that the permit was “provisional”, which is what Cllr Furniss has claimed.

GBC says the permit was only withdrawn after Cllr Furniss’s Facebook statement. The spokesperson said: “An hour later, at 4.15pm on Monday 25 November, VFL was advised by SCC officers that SCC was withdrawing this permit. We will be meeting with Surrey County Council to understand their reasons, and will work closely with them to find a resolution.”

Cllr Matt Furniss

Cllr Furniss was also asked by The Dragon for clarification. He said the permit issued to GBC was provisional, adding: “It was issued on the basis that they could only close the level crossing once the bridge was opened to traffic. Not that they could have both routes closed at the same time which we did not agree to which was stated in the letter issued to residents.

“The provisional permit is now being reviewed following GBC’s letter and the Highways Team are trying to speak to the project team at GBC.”

Parish Councillor Says Road Closure To Be Postponed

The matter was further complicated this afternoon when Ash parish councillor John Tonks, a Conservative, posted on Facebook: “I have confirmed, via Surrey County Council Highways, that the planned road closure of the level crossing has been postponed. The closure was provisional, requiring the diversion route via the road bridge to be available. As the opening of the bridge has been delayed, the works around the level crossing, requiring its temporary closure, must also now be rescheduled to when the diversion route is available.”

GBC’s statement to the Dragon earlier today did not carry this information.

The whole controversy began on Friday when the postponement of the opening of the bridge was announced in a short news release from GBC which 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.”

Under this proposal, that section of Ash Church Road will be closed.

The letter caused consternation 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!”

In the light of Cllr Tonks’ Facebook post, The Guildford Dragon NEWS has asked and SCC and GBC for further comment.