Burpham’s London Road Decision Now Expected in September

Published on: 8 Aug, 2024
Updated on: 8 Aug, 2024

By Martin Giles

An independent design review of the controversial and much-amended plans to improve the London Road in Burpham, between New Inn Lane to Boxgrove Roundabout, is to be discussed by the stakeholder group in September before a final decision is reached.

Tim Oliver, the leader of Surrey County Council, has written to members of the group indicating that SCC would like to hold a meeting to discuss the findings of the report written by Arup professional services following their review.

Tim Oliver – Leader of Surrey County Council

In February a decision on the plan was deferred to allow the review and consultation, “to ensure that the scheme considers the needs of all road users, with further consideration to be given by the Leader at a future date,” said a SCC spokesperson.

He continued: “The review is specifically focusing on:

• “The proposed carriageway lane widths and the potential for the reduction to result in conflict between heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and pedestrians/cyclists
• “The safety of the short length of the scheme where constraints mean that 1.8m width shared use paths are proposed.”

In a members’ update email, the chair of the London Road Action Group (LRAG), Terry Newman, wrote: “SCC had previously indicated that a decision to proceed or not with section 1 would be made prior to the summer break. However, given the announcement of a general election, matters were constrained, leading to a delay, and they now propose to bring a decision paper for presentation in September.

“If this is to be to full cabinet it would be on 24 September. More probable is that it would be at a Leader’s Decision Meeting, as before, earlier in the day. We anticipate that the decision will be announced at the meeting.

“The Leader of the Council has written to members of the Stakeholder Group indicating that SCC would like to hold a meeting with the group to discuss the findings of the Arup report. This is expected to be in early September. LRAG has asked for early sight of the Arup report, in order to hold informed and coherent discussions at the meeting.”

Cllr Fiona Davidson

Local County Cllr Fiona Davidson (R4GV, Guildford South East) said that she had also been advised of the planned meeting in September and commented: “I understand that a final decision on whether to proceed with this section will be made following this meeting.

“Several safety concerns raised by residents since the scheme was first announced have not yet been satisfactorily addressed, and this is why the Arup report was commissioned.

“The question is whether this section of road is wide enough to enable the objectives of the scheme – safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists – to be achieved without making the road much less safe for vehicles.

“This is a busy main arterial route into and out of Guildford – it’s a bus route, a lorry route and an HGV route. Post-implementation will the road be wide enough for two large vehicles (or even one large vehicle and a car), travelling in opposite directions, to pass with sufficient space to ensure the safety of all parties – including any cyclists on the cycle path?

“And, there’s a question over whether it’s desirable to have cyclists and pedestrians sharing the same footway for over 45 per cent of the length of the road when the government’s own cycling infrastructure design guide (LTN 1/20) states that ‘on urban streets, cyclists must be physically separated from pedestrians and should not share space with pedestrians’.

“There are several pinch points where it’s not clear how even a shared cycle/pedestrian footpath could be accommodated if government guidelines are to be followed. Fundamentally, is what’s proposed safe, or do the risks outweigh the benefits? This is not about the theoretic world – it’s about the real world.”

Resident Derek Payne, a member of the Stakeholder Reference Group (STRG), who helped conduct a survey of residents’ views independent of the LRAG, said: “Our Group has been maintaining a watching brief and we are all fully aware of this situation.

“Tim Oliver (Head of SCC) refers to our group as stakeholders, and has said that he will invite us to a meeting with himself later in September ahead of the SCC decision meeting.

“We have asked to see the Arup Report ahead of any meeting, so we can come along prepared for an informed discussion. Arup appear to be respected in their field, and seem to have a good reputation.

“I feel that our Group needs to review the report ourselves and agree a consolidated approach ahead of the meeting with Tim in late September.”

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