Letter: There Is a Better Way to Manage Bus Station Routes in Guildford

Published on: 7 Jul, 2023
Updated on: 7 Jul, 2023

The current exit from the bus station onto Leapale Road.

From: Bibhas Neogi

See: North Street: Approve ‘Smaller, Higher Quality Scheme’ and We Will Withdraw Appeal Says Developer

I was not going to comment anymore in The Guildford Dragon NEWS but I think I must air my views at least one more time.

An altogether better scheme would be if the bus station were relocated to Bedford Road surface car park. Yes, this is a prime site but so is the current bus station land. Advantages are many in addition to creating a transport hub as best as possible now. This is described in my letter to The Dragon, a version of which, updated by me, can be found here.

Is St Edward appealing on a revised bus station entry proposal? If so, strictly speaking, it is not an appeal for refusal of the planning application.

St Edward’s revised proposal with reduced height and revised facade treatment for the tallest building, plus two staircases where needed under new rules, also has entry to the bus station from North Street. St Edward has said they would withdraw their appeal, if and when this is approved.

Three traffic consultants have apparently seen no traffic issues of entry and exit being from and to the north but Surrey Highways did. I suspect the consultants did not take into account additional traffic in the form of many delivery vans, refuse collection, servicing vehicles, etc adding to existing congestion due to North Street traffic coming down Leapale Road.

Also, pedestrians and cyclists from the 475 housing units using crossings near the bus station will inevitably lengthen the red signal phases.

Cllr Joss Bigmore [R4GV, Merrow] laments: “Hence a significant part of the proposed pedestrianised North Street will now not happen and will suffer buses passing through sacrificing the safer environment, the pocket park and the play areas. This is a huge blow to the benefits of the scheme to satisfy SCC”.

It was not just to satisfy SCC. It was a very reasonable opposition considering the adverse effect on bus movements and bus operations.

The solution would be to keep the bus station entry and exit as per the original design, keep Leapale Road one-way, divert traffic from High Street to Chertsey Street (also made one-way) and allow those entering North Street to turn around at a mini roundabout created near Leapale Road junction.

The above arrangement would reduce traffic in Leapale Road and obviate the need for a three-way traffic signal system opposite the bus station. Buses could exit freely in the absence of traffic from their right.

This design would enable a right-turn to be incorporated for buses from Onslow Street onto Woodbridge Road/Leapale Road and avoid the route for buses having to use York Road roundabout to access the bus station.

If the above were done, two-way cycle lanes could be accommodated on all these roads and thus improving access to the bus station for all including disability scooters.

Councils in consultation with St Edward should give these possible solutions serious consideration before deciding on what is best for this development and Guildford town centre.

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