Letter: Our Historic Streets Are Being Spoilt by the Relentless Spread of Tarmac

Published on: 1 May, 2019
Updated on: 1 May, 2019

Temporary fix on a trip hazard on a BT manhole in North Street.

From Bob Bromham,

planning secretary, Holy Trinity Amenity Group

I wish to thank The Guildford Dragon NEWS for highlighting this serious issue (see Watch your step in Guildford – SCC say they can’t afford proper pavement repairs)

Holy Trinity Amenity Group has, for many years, been asking for action to stop deterioration of pedestrian facilities, including pavement surfaces.

Some years ago there was a moratorium on pavement /footway repairs. We were promised that, after the carriageway pothole problem had been addressed, repairs to pavements would be restarted.

We thought we had reached that time, but it appears not. Some pavements have not been maintained for decades. Attention is limited to insertion of tarmac where a trip hazard is identified.

Our key historic streets are being spoilt by the relentless spread of tarmac in place of traditional paving stones. Potential walkers are discouraged. Walking to, and around, the town centre should be safe and pleasurable, but it is not.

The National Planning Policy Framework requires walking to be top of the transport hierarchy, and pedestrians to be given priority. This is being ignored by our councils. We urgently need a task force with a budget and the authority to get action, not just for maintenance but for the obvious many improvements that are needed to bring us up to the standard of other historic towns.

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