Claire’s Column – Transport In Our Town, Have Your Say

Published on: 29 Oct, 2015
Updated on: 29 Oct, 2015

In this regular column – a must-read for all those interested in Guildford business – Claire Dee encourages local businesspeople to feedback on sustainable transport proposals for the town.

Claire Dee.

I regularly run training courses in Guildford, which means I have the pleasure of meeting a whole host of interesting and diverse local people.

This is how I became aware of The Guildford Society – a group of volunteers interested in conserving the town’s environments with a focus on planning, development, design and heritage, and transport. And through them I learnt of Surrey County Council’s (SCC) plans to improve sustainable transport in our town.

SCC is currently consulting on proposals to improve walking, cycling and public transport facilities in Guildford town centre. It is inviting the public and other organisations – including businesses – to complete a questionnaire to share their views on the scheme. The deadline is November 15.

The county council’s proposals include widening pavements, new toucan crossings on busy roads, a new foot and cycle bridge over the River Wey, and improved bus and rail routes and connections.

A public exhibition displaying the proposals will be held in the Seminar Room at Guildford Library in North Street on November 6 from 10am to 5.30pm.

In essence, their aim is to improve sustainable travel options in Guildford making it easier for people to get around the town centre on foot and by bicycle and using public transport. Given that a large proportion of the people who use the town are businesspeople or those working for local businesses, their voices should most definitely be heard.

I’ve sat in many a meeting bemoaning (justifiably so) Guildford’s transport and infrastructure issues. And while these plans won’t change the world, at least they’re a step (or bike ride) in the right direction.

For more information and to have your say visit Surrey County Council’s Guildford Major Transport Schemes

Claire Dee runs her own communications consultancy near Guildford, and is an active member of the local business community including sitting on the Surrey Chambers of Commerce Board and the Institute of Directors Surrey Committee. To learn more visit www.clairedeecommunications.com

Responses to Claire’s Column – Transport In Our Town, Have Your Say

Peter Challens Reply

October 30, 2015 at 10:11 am

Sorry but isn’t this “consultation” a bit of a joke when Waitrose is about to open with 200 free parking spaces? How do you cycle home with your shopping from there?

By the time Guildford finally implements a plan of action I will need a Zimmer frame lane and the equivalent of a stair lift to get up the High Street.

We need to cut out a lot of in town parking to encourage Park & Ride which should be free or charged at a nominal rate so the buses do not have to waste time taking fares.

On the gyratory paint solid white lines to prevent last minute lane changing, forcing traffic to go round again and not block lanes until someone gives way. This needs to be enforced as do the yellow hatch boxes which most ignore.

Do something with the Debenham’s crossing and stop private vehicles following buses and taxis into the bus station and also stop traffic going down North Street continuing on to the bus station.

So much could be done to improve the flow now.
Bernard Parke Reply

October 30, 2015 at 8:16 pm

Yes, so much could be done to improve the traffic flow.

Discourage through traffic with a congestion charge.
David Wragg Reply

October 31, 2015 at 11:58 am

To completely remove through traffic from Guildford would need a ring road rather than a congestion charge, but where would one route a ring road? Guildford’s problem is that it is a beautiful town (should really be a city) in a very confined location.
Mary Bedforth Reply

October 31, 2015 at 1:44 pm

Get behind the move for an extension of Crossrail to Guildford and Woking. The current proposal is for an extension as far as Epsom.

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail2/october2015
Bernard Parke Reply

October 31, 2015 at 4:07 pm

The old borough council planned such a road in the early seventies but when county took over the highways they said it would be too expensive that is why they decimated that part of our town with the gyratory system.

It does not work now and it did not work then.

A congestion charge made on through traffic would concentrate the minds of the drivers, and such a charge is asking little in return for the turmoil they cause to every day living here.
Claire Dee Reply

November 2, 2015 at 2:24 pm

Many thanks all for your comments. A congestion charge is certainly an interesting option…
Bibhas Neogi Reply

November 2, 2015 at 5:04 pm

A congestion charge is only possible if there are viable alternative routes and there are none. If implemented, it would become an unfair charge for many those who have no option but to traverse through Guildford and it would not significantly reduce traffic congestion.