Letter: Holy Trinity Residents Hear of Progress From High-powered Team

Published on: 26 Sep, 2018
Updated on: 26 Sep, 2018

From Gordon Bridger

hon alderman and former Mayor of Guildford

The main topic at the Holy Trinity Amenity Group (HTAG) meeting at the Keep Pub on Monday evening (September 24, 2018) was the new Tunsgate paving which has led to a great deal of controversy and concern about its suitability and cost.

The amount of concern that had been raised was reflected by the uniquely high-powered attendance at the meeting. Present were the deputy leader of Guildford Borough Council (GBC), Matt Furniss, two Holy Trinity Cllrs, Dennis Paul and Geoff Davis, Surrey County Councillor Mark Brett-Warburton, the GBC director of the environment and the GBC Project Officer who gave a presentation of the scheme.

Cllr Furniss explained that there had been a great deal of consultation about the proposals and funding came from GBC, even though roads were a Surrey County Council (SCC) responsibility because the county council are short of funds although they continue to play a key role in the process.

Matt Furniss added, in response to criticism of Tunsgate’s bleak appearance, that further landscaping was proposed to include trees and planters.

Complaints about A Boards were made and deemed valid. They will be dealt with, it was said.

Residents present stressed how important it was that Guildford’s special historic core should be preserved as pressures to erode it increased. It was agreed that the scheme needed to recognise this.

As for the extension of the scheme to Castle Street and Chapel Street, Cllr Furniss stated that detailed plans still needed to be drawn up and nothing definite had been decided, but it was intended to keep Castle Street as the major through route while making it more pedestrian friendly.

As for Chapel Street, residents were reassured that the historic character of the granite setts was an important feature of the town which would be retained and HTAG would be involved in the consultation process. There was no discussion over the nature of the paving for Castle Street.

Cllr Davis later informed the meeting that the North Street road surface would be repaved in the middle of next year (2019) and “traffic tables” (slightly raised ramps) were proposed across Onslow Street.

Subsequently, there was a discussion about the 16-storey tower block proposed by Michel Harper in Onslow Street. It was roundly condemned as a massive carbuncle and the meeting agreed urged that the council reject it without delay.