Letter: New Routes Are Required to Ease Traffic Problems

Published on: 8 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 8 Sep, 2024

From Bibhas Neogi

In response to: Guildford’s Cycling Infrastructure Is Pitiful

Guildford is a gap town and so all roads go though the town centre. Its roads are narrow and therefore in general it is not possible to provide good cycle lanes.

Traffic needs to be diverted away, in some cases, to free up road space for cycle lanes and better pedestrian routes.

This means creating other routes and here lies the hurdle of councils’ (SCC and GBC) mental block. The very idea of creating new routes is not favoured by the councils and many people because of the idea spread by some traffic gurus that they create more traffic.

There would be some increase but this should not be the reason for not improving the network. Guildford needs these improvements because traffic is well in excess of capacity, so you can’t get a quart into a pint pot.

Various ideas have been put forward by consultants paid for by the councils to come up with these on the assumption that traffic would be reduced by some 30 per cent or more.

Motorists would be encouraged to switch to active travel and walk, cycle and use buses instead of driving cars into Guildford and use Park & Ride whenever possible.

However, in my view it is too ambitious to assume such a change in attitude of motorists to bring about a big reduction. Closure of the Onslow Park & Ride is not good news and it does not support the cause of active travel.

The way to achieve better cycle routes is by redesigning the road network with creating some new routes. Removal of the gyratory would be essential but it cannot be done without creating a new east-west route. It would take a lot of the traffic away from southbound Onslow Street that feeds the gyratory.

Please have a look at the various proposals I have advocated for improving traffic and hence making Guildford a better place for pedestrians and cyclists. These are on my keepandshare website.

Responses to Letter: New Routes Are Required to Ease Traffic Problems

David Ogilvie Reply

September 8, 2024 at 3:27 pm

As set out in my letter to The Dragon published on September 5 A New East-West Crossing is Essential for Guildford, a ring road around Guildford removing through traffic from town centre would make a huge improvement to cycling and walking in the town centre in safer and healthier conditions.
- Jim Allen Reply
  
  September 11, 2024 at 9:53 pm
  
  Hence my suggestion of the link road from the A25 to A3 at Gosden Hill and an improved link road around Compton this would effectively be that ring road! It you want the high houses and the town centre traffic free it needs more road capacity somewhere else.
  
  Road capacity reduction as a policy in the surrey Transport plan is both irrational and totally illogical.
  
  As is trying to fit new roads within the town centre destroying it’s very character.
  - Bibhas Neogi Reply
    
    September 17, 2024 at 1:26 pm
    
    What Jim Allen suggests is part of an outer ring road in the Southwest sector. The outer ring road in the north east sector connecting the A31, the A322 and the A320 to the A3 does not exist in any form.
    
    What I and David Ogilvie have suggested are like parts of an inner ring road, taking traffic away from the town centre in order to make it better for cyclists and pedestrians. These two are different measures and try to solve separate issues.
    
    If one looks at my website describing the possibility of a new east-west route, it clearly does not affect the town centre as this involves making way through the light industrial sites on either sides of Walnut Tree Close. Only a small part of it requires acquisition of about seven buildings (14 semi-detached properties) and that runs parallel to Leas Road. It also makes Leas Road one-way to double its capacity.
    
    I believe it is a worthwhile project for the councils to explore.
    - Jim Allen Reply
      
      September 17, 2024 at 4:17 pm
      
      What I am suggesting A25 to A3 was deemed necessary in 1984..to relieve the A247 and New Inn Lane. the relief of Compton of heavy traffic from Peasmarsh. To the A3 is also well known need the A320 and A31 are different problems