County Councillor Says Shalford Traffic Should Improve with the Reopening of Broadford Road

Published on: 24 Feb, 2023
Updated on: 25 Feb, 2023

By Martin Giles

A borough councillor says he fully understands residents’ anger about the disruption to traffic in Shalford and Peasmarsh over the last week by the cumulative effect of different road works.

The closure of Broadford Road that links Shalford and Peasmarsh (see map below) coincided with road works by the Seahorse pub on the A281 and works by Thames Water on the parallel Portsmouth Road (A3100) in St Catherine’s, causing long queues and delays.

William Newland commented on Nextdoor “Why have closed the road going to towards Peasmarsh and doing road work’s going towards Guildford from Shalford! Some logic that.”

There was also frustration expressed by several contributors that, at times, little work appeared to be underway at the roadworks.

But responding Kate Benardczyk was more understanding: “Under our roads are sewers, some well over 100 years old. There is also our gas, electricity and broadband. Heavy traffic constantly driving over will cause regular damage. Roads sink, in the last year they have been subject to extreme heat, cold and floods. Trees fall on them.

“The idea that all the planned and emergency work can be done at the weekends or during the holidays is unrealistic. There is no “they” arrogantly out to make your life miserable, just hard-pressed human beings faced with a situation where they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.”

Cllr Matt Furniss

Matt Furniss (Con) the county councillor for Shalford and the Cabinet member for Transport responded yesterday: “I know it has been a frustrating time with the constant roadworks since the start of 2023.

“I have been in weekly discussions with the team and the manager for Streetworks about the situation as it is delaying a number of improvements in the village that I have funded including footpath resurfacing and crossings.

Due to a number of emergency works that have needed to be done while we also have a planned bridge scheme on Broadford Road which is very unfortunate. Surrey Highways have deferred other planned works in the area.” [An earlier version of this quote was incorrect. Apologies. Ed]

Cllr Furniss’s statement on Nextdoor yesterday (February 23)

A comment from a respondent who remained unimpressed.

Cllr Ramsey Nagaty

Ramsey Nagaty (GGG) a borough councillor for Shalford said this morning: “Matt Furniss attended the Shalford Community Council meeting last night and explained the various events surrounding this matter. He advised that SCC had authorised one-way lights and overnight working to enable Broadford Road to be re-opened.

“It was clear from the explanation given that not only better regular updated communications are required from SCC but also from the utility companies with the public and SCC.

“The utility companies can commence emergency work without SCC authorisation and it appears sometimes there are delays before SCC are even aware.”

Matt Furniss had given assurances that an alternative route to Broadford Road through Tilthams Corner Road and Trunley Heath Road would not have work done at the same time as Broadford Road was closed for bridge repairs.

But some confusion was caused when this was not reflected in the published list of roadworks and frustration was increased by signs indicating the narrow Tilthams  Corner Road, single lane over two bridges, was not a suitable diversion. With little other choice many drivers including some lorries did use the route causing long queues.

Cllr Nagaty continued: “I appreciate it is not SCC’s fault that all these works coincided but it has demonstrated the need for better communication and quicker repairs. I urge the utility companies and SCC to improve communications and ensure overnight and weekend working to limit disruption and carbon emissions that affect Shalford or indeed other communities in Surrey.

“There is little point in entering a blame game but plenty to be gained by better co-operation and communications.”

Cllr Furniss said on Nextdoor: “I have asked the team to produce a list of any known future works in Shalford.”

Cllr Matt Furniss will not respond to questions from The Guildford Dragon NEWS.

Shalford Roadworks map showing affected routes. Apple maps.

Share This Post