Letter: Chapel Street Refurbishment is Necessary

Published on: 17 Jul, 2018
Updated on: 17 Jul, 2018

Chapel Street

From B Matthews

In response to: Is Chapel Street Refurbishment Really Necessary? Ask Aldermen and Residents

As a resident and business owner in Castle St/Chapel St, I would absolutely say yes, this refurbishment is necessary, and fellow businesses and residents that I have spoken to have generally also been supportive of these plans.

Any of the businesses that attended the Tunsgate meetings, organised by Experience Guildford at the Guildhall, would know that Chapel Street was Phase 2 of the plans to improve the access to the Castle and Museum area. It aims to generally increase footfall in one of the most beautiful parts of Guildford that sadly a lot of people don’t even realise is there.

As Brian Holt observes in his comment, “I have never seen anyone walking along Chapel Street”. Well maybe that is because it is currently difficult to navigate, with narrow pathways, very uneven road surface and very cluttered with A-boards blocking access most of the way through in the daytime and blocked with delivery vehicles in the evenings, as viewed from the High Street, it is quite simply an unappealing passage to attempt to pass through.

This proposal will make Chapel Street more attractive, more accessible and generally more user-friendly. As with Tunsgate, it will become pedestrianised all day and evening creating al fresco dining opportunities for the restaurants down there, in turn creating a more attractive street both visually and in atmosphere. I for one wholeheartedly support that.