Letter: I Hope A281 Roadworks Are Being Properly Monitored

Published on: 24 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 24 Jan, 2026

A281 Roadworks

From Jack Bayliss

As residents will be aware, for more than two weeks now Southern Gas have had one lane of the A281 closed just beyond the Guildford Rowing Club on the A281 Shalford Road.

The usual lengthy queues have ensued. As can be seen in the attached photograph. On Thursday at 10.25am there were three vehicles present, one van and two cars, as well as a small digger, but no one was doing any work and there was no sign of anyone outside the vehicles.

The helmet on the Toyota in the foreground was just that, a helmet on top of the vehicle. It being a wet morning, the footway could only be used at the risk of being badly splashed by vehicles going through the puddle on the only open side of the carriageway and I was on foot.

This morning, although I accept it is a Saturday (January 24), there was no one on site and no vehicle.

Even accepting that there may be a need to check gas levels after a repair, it is difficult to believe that Southern Gas have been dealing with the problem in an expeditious manner.

I have been in correspondence with local councillors on the subject and hope that we, the public, can be assured that Surrey County Council’s street works inspectors have been monitoring this matter effectively.

Responses to Letter: I Hope A281 Roadworks Are Being Properly Monitored

M West Reply

January 25, 2026 at 10:36 am

I see that these works have now been extended to February 3. I think they were originally scheduled to end on the 28th.

As you say, very little work seems to be going on which is less then helpful for one of the main roads into Guildford.