Letter: London Road Scheme Is Wanted

Published on: 24 Feb, 2024
Updated on: 24 Feb, 2024

From: Howard Smith

Labour borough councillor for Westborough

In response to: Why Does SCC Insist on Its London Road Proposal – Unwanted by the Majority?

It’s difficult to know where to start with Valerie Thompson’s comment.

She says the London Road scheme is unwanted.

But it is wanted by a wide margin of local residents, according to the SCC survey.

It is wanted by both George Abbot School and the High School.

It is wanted by local cycle groups.

It is wanted by Guildford Borough Council.

It is wanted by the Guildford Society

So, who is it not wanted by?

A tiny number of car-driving activists who seem to care nothing for road safety, air quality, relieving congestion on our roads, and presumably climate change. In short, a tiny number who only care about themselves.

Let’s give alternatives to the car a chance. Let’s try to rescue our town from one that is becoming overwhelmed by traffic.

Responses to Letter: London Road Scheme Is Wanted

Jim Allen Reply

February 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm

Why is Howard Smith trying to influence events outside his ward while he should be spending his time pushing for cycle paths in his own ward! Which has a higher accident rate then Burpham?

Not once has he said: “If you don’t want it, spend the money in his Westborough!”

There is no wide margin on the London Road. Those who understand the implications are against it.

Road Safety for all should come before a fad of less than 0.1 per cent of road users.
John Perkins Reply

February 25, 2024 at 3:12 am

Perhaps Howard Smith can explain how the town is being overwhelmed by a “tiny number of car-driving activists”?
Ben Paton Reply

February 25, 2024 at 11:43 am

Who was it who said that ‘anything is better than nothing’ where cycling in Guildford is concerned?

That sounds like ‘famous last words’.
Derek Payne Reply

April 5, 2024 at 10:24 am

Having read the Labour Party Winter Bulletin I note that the first point states: “Putting an end to rat-running”.

Given that the SCC Modelling Report states that implementation of the London Road changes would increase congestion by 30 per cent (ergo pollution by 30 per cent, but that’s an aside), with the stated intention (by SCC and the designers) of cars “diverting onto other routes”, I suggest that various residential roads between London Road and Epsom Road would be used by motorists trying to avoid congestion.

This would significantly increase the “rat run” traffic that Labour state they plan to reduce.

At the SCC decision making meeting, Cllr Howard Smith stated that he resides in Jacob’s Well and is a keen cyclist. If he uses NCN Route 223 from Bowers Lane to The Spectrum, this gives him the most direct route to his ward.

Cllr Smith’s initial statements re who wants the Scheme is so far from correct that it doesn’t warrant comment.