Flashback: Alderman Hits Out Over Railway Station Revamp Plans and ‘Misleading’ Brochure

Published on: 6 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 6 Jan, 2025

Flashback looks at Dragon NEWS stories of a decade ago.

Ten years ago this week proposals for the redevelopment of Guildford railway station were beginning to gain attention and attracted commented by the late Alderman Gordon Bridger.

First published on The Guildford Dragon NEWS on January 3, 2015

Alderman Gordon Bridger has hit out over plans for the redevelopment of Guildford railway station and is concerned over what he believes is a “misleading glossy brochure” being circulated on behalf of the developers.

He has criticised the station plans submitted to Guildford Borough Council by Solum Regeneration, a partnership between Network Rail and Kier Property.

Artist’s impression on how Guildford railway station may look according to developer Solum’s plans.

Writing to the borough council over the plans he states that the proposed height of the development (on the east side of the station) “is totally out of scale with a town centre whose topographical character would be seriously overwhelmed by such a large high unit”.

He adds: “The scale of some 48,000 square metres is too large for this area,” and that “the design does not respect the character of Guildford and would impose upon a ‘Euston’ or ‘Croydon’ style.”

Alderman Gordon Bridger.

In a letter to The Guildford Dragon NEWS, Mr Bridger writes: “Most residents of Guildford will have now received a glossy brochure from Solum Regeneration.

“It lists many of the developments proposed such as 445 homes, 440 car spaces, 300 jobs, and claims, but does not detail, that there will be improvements to the railway station, more public space and better access.

“The ‘newsletter’ then asks respondents to answer eight questions about the improvements they would like to see. All of them will surely entail a favourable response – for who would not want improved public facilities, more parking, a new public square and better shops?

“What it does not tell you, despite photo montages, is that it entails a 15-storey block, the highest ever built in Guildford and that it is part of the largest planning application ever received by Guildford – some 48,000 square metres of development.

“Surely this high-rise building, which will tower over the town, should have figured in this leaflet? Residents are entitled to be indignant at the failure to reveal this most important feature and the attempt, via a questionnaire to inveigle them into approving the proposal.

“Before commenting on, let alone approving the proposals, they need to be evaluated as part of the new town centre ‘vision’. The council has just approved funds for the Allies Consultancy report to be converted into a master plan which will include vital transport proposals which Solum appear to have ignored. This report will be ready in a few months and Solum’s proposals need to fit into it.”

Mr Bridger also believes the improvements to the station are minimal, saying that ticket office space appears smaller, with no moving stairs.

He says that the station “is a vital nodal point for traffic and there are no signs of any improvements – indeed it would appear that traffic space would be reduced”.

The need for another supermarket “must be challenged,” he urges, and says: “We need to see the results of the new town centre proposals just voted through GBC for the town centre before determining this application.”

“My advice to those wishing to respond to it is to avoid answering biased questions and to question why they have been sent a circular which does not set out all their developments properly. They may find my response useful, which reads – ‘No I am not in favour of this proposal if it is delivered as part of a massive development towering over Guildford’.”