News In Brief From Millmead

Published on: 6 Jul, 2016
Updated on: 8 Jul, 2016

Latest news from Guildford Borough Council

Council’s plan to build 160 homes

One hundred and sixty homes, 64 of them at affordable rents, will be built by the council if a proposed mixed-use development in Guildford town centre is approved later this year.

Proposals for the brownfield site off Guildford Park Road are for 46 one-bed and 87-two bed flats plus 27 three-bed houses. The plan also includes a multi-storey car park with 493 parking spaces.

The lead councillor for housing and social welfare, Tony Rooth, said: “We are all aware of the need for new housing in our borough and the council is determined to lead the way.

“The homes would be built on our existing car park off Guildford Park Road, close to the town centre and railway station. It shows our commitment to look at brownfield sites first for any development in our borough.”

Syrian refugee resettlement programme

Guildford has welcomed its first refugee family as part of the Government’s Syrian Refugee Resettlement Programme, with a second family expected shortly.

The two families will be housed in privately rented accommodation and all associated costs are being met fully by the government under the scheme.

Guildford Borough Councillor Iseult Roche said: “We hope there will be more offers of suitable private accommodation in the coming months and we will continue to work closely with the faith sector and other partners to ensure that any families coming to our borough receive the support they require.

“In the meantime, we continue to provide logistical support for collections of clothes and other essential items for refugees overseas.”

Stoughton Community Centre reopens

The Mayor of Guildford, Gordon Jackson, cuts the ribbon to officially repoen the Stoughton Community Centre.

Stoughton Community Centre has been officially reopened by the Mayor of Guildford, Gordon Jackson.

Following major refurbishment, the council-owned centre, situated in Stoughton Recreation Ground off Worplesdon Road, is once again open for use by community groups.

The venue is operated by the Challengers charity and provides a hall, lounge area and kitchen available for hire.

Some of the building’s upgrades include the creation of an accessible changing room, new kitchen, and new internal and external doors.

It has been completely redecorated, with external storage having been added, and work has been done on the exterior. Other changes include new signage, notice boards, and an improved alarm system.

Click here to find out more about the centre on Challengers’ website.

Or call 01483 230930 for details of hiring the centre.

Responses to News In Brief From Millmead

Bibhas Neogi Reply

July 7, 2016 at 9:59 am

The good news for Guildford that the GBC is taking this initiative to build much needed housing on the Guildford Park Road car park site. In their earlier planning guidance, the council had said that the access to the site of the car park was poor. There is nothing planned or revealed as to what improvements are to go with this development.

What is also worrying is that the councils (GBC and SCC) are not thinking ahead about how to improve the east-west route that is now connected by Farnham Road bridge only. This bridge is due for a major refurbishment and an alternative route is needed when it is closed to traffic. Traffic may need to be diverted over a replacement road bridge along the route of “Yorkie’s” footbridge.

For the longer term, a route over the tracks from a point close to this site towards Woodbridge Road would be essential if congestion in the town is to be relieved. And in that case, this development has to be carefully designed so as not to compromise the construction of such a route including the bridge over the tracks.

The bridge over the tracks would have to be constructed using a method that does not interfere with the safe running of the trains at all times. It may be the case then that land on both sides of the tracks would have to be kept free of obstructions to enable construction to proceed. The Solum Regenerations plan also needs to accommodate this route over their land.

A while ago GBC had said it would look into the possibility of a new east-west route but nothing, as far as I am aware, has been revealed by GBC or SCC as to what they are doing about it.

Development of housing without associated development of the road network creates further congestion, as we are well aware. Instead of piecemeal planning, let the planning be holistic so that the outcome is the most cost-effective and beneficial to all.