Road Minister To See Guildford’s Traffic Issues First Hand

Published on: 15 Jan, 2014
Updated on: 15 Jan, 2014

Roads minister Robert Goodwill

Roads minister, Robert Goodwill MP will be visiting Guildford on Friday (January 17) see local traffic issues for himself.

First he will listen to local businesses at the Guildford Business Breakfast meeting to be held at the YMCA situated right on the one way, town centre ‘gyratory’, itself the subject of a review.

The Minister will then be meeting the Leader of the Council, Stephen Mansbridge and the lead councillor for infrastructure, James Palmer to discuss local traffic problems.

Traffic and our local road infrastructure is an ongoing issue for Guildford Borough Council, an issue strongly coupled with development of a Local Plan. Subjects that are expected to be discussed are: traffic congestion and the A3; noise and pollution issues; the need for upgrades to busy junctions and making full use of public transport, and cycling and walking routes.

It is understood that there is some frustration among local councillors that the borough is expected to deliver more housing without commensurate investment in infrastructure, especially roads.

Anne Milton MP said today (January 15): “I am delighted that the minister is coming to Guildford. It is important that we get investment in this area and it is a great opportunity to show him the challenges we face, the geographic constraints, railway and river, to make sure Guildford can continue to thrive.”

The minister, Robert Goodwill has been the Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby since the May 5 2005 general election. He has been a farmer since 1979 of land which has been in his family since 1850 and the managing director of Mowthorpe Ltd since 1995, which offers environmentally friendly burials in the North Yorkshire countryside.

In 2012 he was appointed a government whip in 2012 and promoted to be a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport in 2013.

Responses to Road Minister To See Guildford’s Traffic Issues First Hand

Brian Holt Reply

January 15, 2014 at 8:57 pm

We have seen in Stoughton, over recent years, hundreds of new houses built on two former army barracks sites and The Hazels, which was The Friary Brewery sports ground.

With most houses now having at least two cars, there is a lot of extra traffic daily on Stoughton’s narrow roads and not one road has had any improvements made.

Grange Road is narrow and has a school. Worplesdon Road traffic is stationary most mornings as far back as Salt Box Road.
Road improvements are essential when building significant numbers of new houses in a area, to keep the traffic moving.
Bernard Parke Reply

January 16, 2014 at 8:29 am

This traffic congestion is not helped by the fact that there are also two junior schools in this particular road with no parking facilities for parents.

Concern over this problem was raised at the time that the new housing estate was planned. It was said then that the new residents would use the access on to the Worplesdon Road and not Grange Road.

Unfortunately, this is not the case.

To appreciate this problem it is so necessary to have local input as those who live outside the confines of the old borough boundaries do not have first hand knowledge of our problems.

I hope the local councillors are making representations on behalf of the people who put them in a position to speak for them.
Mary Bedforth Reply

January 16, 2014 at 11:04 am

Trust that there will not be a Friday night gridlock situation for Mr Goodwill to observe.

The minister is due to be there for a business breakfast meeting so should be able to see the gyratory in full ‘flow’. Ed
Martin Elliott Reply

January 16, 2014 at 3:03 pm

Congratulations to whoever put up temporary traffic signals this morning, near the station. Traffic jams/queuing reported back to the A3, as usual with this disruption.

Any chance you’ll be there tomorrow (Friday)?

The Dragon will be covering the ministerial visit tomorrow. Ed
Julie Rand Reply

January 16, 2014 at 3:20 pm

Hard to see where the extra land/money for ‘road improvements’ will come from. The congestion is caused by too many people with too many cars.

I cycle through the area regularly and I’m sure more would do if traffic speeds and volume were reduced and there was a decent route into Guildford and over the A3. Widening and improving roads, as has been seen at Hindhead, just leads to more – yes you guessed it – motor traffic!
sue fox Reply

January 17, 2014 at 12:24 pm

As one of the only three councillors who opposed the density of Queen Elizabeth Park and who pointed out the traffic problems then and who lives on Worplesdon Road, I commuted to London daily from Worplesdon station as it was impossible to cross the road and get to Guildford station.

I’m not at all surprised by comments about the Stoughton area congestion. Stoughton has lost green spaces consistently over the last 30 years as the majority group on the council guarded their backyards.
Mary Bedforth Reply

January 24, 2014 at 1:37 pm

It’s a good job that the minister was not visiting today! One lane out on Bridge Street, another one out for repairs over the river bridge at Ladymead and repairs on the A281 at the junction with Pilgrims Way have brought the midday Guildford traffic to a juddering halt.

Good opportunity to observe the litter lying around in the piles of wet leaf mulch on the verges, gutters and pavements.
Julie Rand Reply

January 29, 2014 at 12:05 pm

If the minister had cycled round the area (and he is minister for cycling too!), he would have realised that the poor cycling infrastructure, despite millions in LSTF funding, means bikes are only an option for the intrepid few. Now the towpath has been washed away by the floods, it’s even more challenging down Walnut Tree Close. But at least you don’t get stuck in ‘traffic’….
Mary Bedforth Reply

February 12, 2014 at 10:46 am

Why has this committee
http://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/mgMeetingAttendance.aspx?ID=3031
chaired by County Councillor Brett-Warburton Guildford South East and consisting of 20 GBC and SCC councillors, not made representations to Surrey County Council Highways Dept to repair the section of the A320 Guildford to Woking Road between the roundabout at Jacobs Well and Slyfield?

The multiple potholes and missing layers of road surface are making it extremely dangerous for motorists and cyclists alike and damaging to vehicles.

Also why not suggest widening the throat on each side of the entrance to Slyfield to allow traffic to enter and exit on slip roads.
Mary Bedforth Reply

February 12, 2014 at 10:50 am

PS: I should have linked to the Guildford local committee’s functions.

Your Local Committee for Guildford

What is the Local Committee?

Your Local Committee makes important decisions about the area that you live in. It is where the local councillors for the area meet to discuss and decide on many of the issues that matter to you and the people who live, work or study nearby.

What does the Local Committee do?

The Local Committee can make decisions about:
Activities for young people
Funding for community groups and activities
Roads and road maintenance
Road safety
Driving speed limits
Parking restrictions
Public rights of way – byways and footpaths

It also monitors how well public services like libraries and social care are benefitting local people. The Committee has a special role in making sure that local schools are performing well or taking the necessary steps to improve.

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/get-involved/your-local-area/guildford-local-area/your-local-committee-for-guildford