- Stay Connected
Socialize
Abraham Lincoln
If given the truth, the people can be depended upon to meet any national crisis...
Guildford news...
for Guildford people, brought to you by Guildford reporters - Guildford's own news service
Letter: If the London Road Naysayers Have Better Ideas Let’s Hear Them
Published on: 30 Jun, 2023
Updated on: 30 Jun, 2023
From: Howard Smith
Labour borough councill for Westborough
In response to: Still Some Concerns on Planned Consultation for London Road Cycle Scheme
While we await further details of the scheme, it’s worth commenting that ultimately the question is whether for the duration of making these alterations the short-term inconvenience is worth the long-term benefits of having more (safe) cycling in our town.
As someone who makes most of their journeys around Guildford by bike (and used to cycle every day to school at George Abbot) I would of course, say yes.
If the naysayers to the scheme want to see long-term improvements to traffic congestion, air quality and to enable and promote healthier lifestyles, let us hear their alternative suggestions.
Share This Post
Responses to Letter: If the London Road Naysayers Have Better Ideas Let’s Hear Them
Leave a Comment Please see our comments policy. All comments are moderated and may take time to appear.
Derek Payne
July 12, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Cllr Smith was at the meeting on January 5 and would have heard 90 per cent of the room (circa 500 local residents) objecting for very good reasons.
Rather than me regurgitate details from the meeting, I suggest he speaks to people living close to this location and does some homework on the topic.
I also note that Mr Smith is a councillor for Westborough, which is on the opposite side of town from the planned changes. Given that there are some 15,000+ car journeys per day along this major arterial road, compared to 260 cycle journeys, and the (optimistic) estimate of an increase in cycle traffic is 50 per cent, I would suggest the proposal is a catastrophic waste of public money, and sometimes the “do nothing” option is best, especially as we are aiming for carbon neutral by 2050.
And just to add, he should come see the roundabout at 8.30am and 4.30pm on a weekday and then explain to me how a Dutch Roundabout will improve things (given the only one in the country has seen an increase in accidents of 66 per cent – this is not Holland).