Letter: A Shocking Failure of Communication

Published on: 10 Dec, 2022
Updated on: 10 Dec, 2022

From: Susan Hibbert

In response to: Anger Continues Over Planned Burpham Roadworks But Director Responsible Will Not Be Facing Local Residents

I cannot understand why local residents, businesses and schools were not consulted on this. As a committee member of my local Residents Association, I am in touch with several others and community forums bordering London Road. No one I know in any of these organisations was aware of this scheme until its imminent start date began to leak out a couple of weeks ago.

This is a shocking failure of communication and shows utter disrespect by Surrey County Council for the local community, as well as a lack of awareness of the knock-on effects on traffic throughout Guildford.

We all want roads to be safer for pedestrians and cyclists but this is no way to go about trying to achieve that aim; indeed, there are grave doubts as to whether this particular scheme will deliver the desired result.

Responses to Letter: A Shocking Failure of Communication

Martin Elliott Reply

December 10, 2022 at 6:33 pm

Surely the Guildford Councillors discussed this, and other local road works at meetings of the Guildford Joint Committee. I thought that was should have been a prime subject for that body, or did it exist just to authorise funding?

I say “did” as SCC has closed the committee having failed to railroad through charges for on-road parking without consultation. It ceased operating on December 6 2022.

SCC says: “The council has made a clear commitment to adopt a new approach to engagement, to be a more connected and more effective local partner, working with and alongside local people.

“As part of the new, wider focus, 11 Community Link Officers (CLOs) are working closely with county councillors, district and borough officers and wider partners across each district and borough, to develop deeper conversations with our communities, to understand their priorities and to help them shape their local [area]”.

Will a community link officer be allocated to the meeting on December 17?

https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=751
Anthony Mallard Reply

December 11, 2022 at 9:19 am

And, the issue is that no one, it would appear, can do anything about it. It beggars belief that we now live in a political dictatorship whilst we assist the Ukrainians in their fight for democracy.
Colin Cross Reply

December 11, 2022 at 1:50 pm

As a GBC and SCC councillor, representing a widespread rural area of the borough north and west of the town and adjacent to the A3 corridor, this news is shocking.

We were never going to be considered or consulted on the merits or otherwise of this half-baked scheme but we will be seriously delayed and badly affected by it.

The villages of Send, Ripley, Wisley, Ockham, The Horsleys and Clandons will now have to find alternative routes south into Guildford town centre for the foreseeable future and for what benefits?

As has been said elsewhere, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. As for the waste of taxpayers’ money which would be much better spent elsewhere…

Colin Cross is a R4GV borough councillor for Lovelace and county councillor for The Horsleys.
- John Lomas Reply
  
  December 11, 2022 at 6:27 pm
  
  Doesn’t the road being open for Southbound traffic and closed to northbound traffic mean that they will have to find alternative routes back from town?