Letter: Why Won’t Highways England Make This Clearly Dangerous Junction Safer?

Published on: 27 Oct, 2020
Updated on: 27 Oct, 2020

Beechcroft Drive exit to A3 – Google Maps

From: Steve Grove

In response to: No Agreement on Solution for Beechcroft Drive ‘Deadly Junction’

I have been visiting property in Beechcroft Drive from time to time for the past 35 years or so, and remembering the above Dragon NEWS article (dated January 2019), I am appalled this junction still remains unaltered as of October 2020.

Then, Highways England (HE) stated “they will be operating average speed cameras on the 50mph section of the northbound A3” and: “These cameras should help to make the road safer by reducing the congestion caused by incidents and also smooth out traffic flow.”

Traffic slows (to some degree) when entering the 50mph zone, but all this does is to create a continuous flow of vehicles. Any chance of a gap in traffic is lost and whether or not you are involved in an accident, exiting Beechcroft Drive, becomes a lottery.

The sightline from Beechcroft Drive is insufficient for safe exiting, requiring drivers to “put their foot down” so as not to be rammed up the back. County Cllr Fiona White [Lib Dem, Guildford West] said she “usually mutters a prayer on the way out” of Beechcroft Drive. So does everyone else.

I am led to believe there are five or six criteria which must be met for HE to improve a junction. But if only some can be met, HE does not perform any improvement.

Highways England should not have wasted money on the Tesco slip-off, which was never dangerous, and instead spent it on improving access to and exit from Beechcroft Drive.

What will it take to get this dangerous junction properly improved?

Responses to Letter: Why Won’t Highways England Make This Clearly Dangerous Junction Safer?

Bibhas Neogi Reply

October 27, 2020 at 2:18 pm

Unfortunately, the A3 widening scheme that would have addressed this junction, has been shelved for the third time. It is now uncertain whether funding for the widening would be available again soon.

I gather various alternatives for connections with nearby road network had been examined and proposed by Beechcroft Residents Association but as far as I am aware nothing has been progressed by either the council or the university.

At the western end of Beechcroft Drive the plot of land adjacent to the wooded area to its south could be developed for housing and an access to Farnham Road could be created as part of it.

I am aware that this land is part of Blackwell Farm site but whether it could be considered separately remains to be seen. It is tied to the adjacent existing housing on Beechcroft Drive with is troublesome access problems off the A3 created as a result of the first Guildford and Godalming bypass and subsequently made even more dangerous when the A3 was widened to a dual carriageway. Would, I wonder, the council consider this plot separately and favour such a proposal if one were forthcoming?
Ramsey Nagaty Reply

October 27, 2020 at 2:51 pm

I quite agree. Highways England’s attitude to this junction beggars belief.

Ramsey Nagaty is a GGG borough councillor for Shalford.
Jacob Allen Reply

October 27, 2020 at 9:49 pm

Hear, hear! It’s a death trap.