SCC Cabinet Decides to Pull the Plug on London Road Scheme

Published on: 29 Oct, 2024
Updated on: 31 Oct, 2024

SCC artist impression of how the completed scheme could have looked.

By Martin Giles

In a result that surprised many observers Surrey County Council’s Cabinet voted today, by six votes to three, against proceeding with the Active Travel scheme to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists along the stretch of the A3100 London Road in Burpham.

Please also see the full, LDRS report: County Council Reject £6 Million Active Travel Scheme for London Road

Terry Newman, chair of the London Road Action Group, which has campaigned against the proposals, in a message to the group’s supporters wrote: “Members of the public and Cabinet members aired views about the efficacy of the design, which unsurprisingly remained as polarised as ever.

“In the end, the safety risks of the narrower carriageways, for both vehicles and active travellers, as well as the hazards of the extent of shared tracks for able-bodied and disabled persons, resulted in a recommendation that the scheme should not proceed.

“There was no discussion about alternative plans, nor how this might affect development of Boxgrove roundabout. Further news will await the publication of the official Cabinet decision.”

Howard Smith, a Labour borough councillor at Guildford who cycles on the route, said: “What can you say? Depressing. Mainly for the people of Burpham, who will have to put up with continued and worsening traffic congestion and probably air quality, especially once the Gosden Hill development comes through.”

R4GV county councillor Fiona Davidson (Guildford South East) commented: ‘”I am pleased with the result but was not expecting it to be 6 to 3.”