Letter: There Are Elements of the GVG Plan Which Do Not Make Sense

Published on: 22 Mar, 2017
Updated on: 22 Mar, 2017

From Helena Townsend

I am desperately trying to understand the Guildford Vision Group (GVG) proposal but if I am honest there are some things that just do not make sense:

The plan for a fly-over at some height above the River Wey – how on earth will this improve the river setting?
Masses of residential homes along where the Odeon is (by the way where will the cinema go?) and along the rear of Mary Road area – this area is well known for flooding.
Making Bridge Street pedestrianised – this will still be horrid without cars – it hardly features buildings of architectural merit.
A further attack on the river at the bottom of the High Street, taking away the Town Bridge and replacing it with more traffic.
Big piazzas everywhere – does Guildford have a population that can fill these? Where are all these people coming from?
Finally, the new road – are we not just moving Bridge Street to the north?

Having seen the lecture theatre at the university it was hard not to notice how many of the GVG’s own members were in the audience, it was also alarming to see the demographic of the few other people there.

Responses to Letter: There Are Elements of the GVG Plan Which Do Not Make Sense

Martin Elliott Reply

March 22, 2017 at 12:05 pm

An aggregate of around 500 people are reported to have attended the two presentations. One has to assume a fair number attended both meetings.

Census reports are that Guildford Borough has over 140,000 residents, so has the plan been truly scrutinised? I don’t think so.

Even for those who use the internet, what is there for us to go through on the GVG site. Not a lot. A rough outline map, and a gimmicky “fly through”.

Despite its faults, GBC has at least published several draft plans and, albeit partial,supporting reports. When are GVG going to publish if their plan is so good?

On the transport side, I believe the average household ownership of vehicles is a bit over two [in Surrey]. We buy vehicles because we have a need for then, particularly outside of the town centre. Many journeys are what the authorities want, i.e. journeys through the town.

But what is supplied for a trip from say Burpham to Shalford or Godalming in these ‘plans’. We are car driving population, why not provide roads fit for the residents, rather than a ‘modal shift’, which, let’s face it, is to save money.
Eddie Ward Reply

March 30, 2017 at 9:32 pm

I thought that the whole point of the GVG scheme is to take cars/lorries away from the town centre.

If that happens, no doubt people will then be happy to use the piazzas.
- Bibhas Neogi Reply
  
  March 31, 2017 at 1:05 pm
  
  GVG is proposing simply to export the gyratory traffic problems to Guildford Park Road area. This is like dumping one’s rubbish on to neighbour’s garden. This is not a desirable nor an elegant solution. It would not even deal with the current volume of traffic let alone any future increase.