Short Working Day On Roadworks In North Street Hits Shop Trade

Published on: 18 Jan, 2019
Updated on: 21 Jan, 2019

Shopkeepers have protested that roadworks on North Street in Guildford are affecting their trade.

The roadworks, to construct speed tables across North Street and to widen the pavement, are planned to last from January 8 to January 25.

The current works under a Surrey County Council permit allow a maximum of only six hours of work a day.

These reduced working hours on site is said to be extending the time it takes to complete the works and is prolonging the impact on shop trade.

Pavement closed during the roadworks at the top of North Street have made access to shops difficult.

A spokesperson on site said that the permit allows one-way traffic lights between 9.30am and 3.30pm. The restrictions aim to avoid work during peak hours.

However, the pavements will be closed day and night until the roadworks are completed. This is evidently deterring customers from walking to the shops.

Access to Moffats in North Street has been made very difficult during the roadworks. It is not clear whether the regulation minimum 1.2m width for pedestrian access has been provided.

A local trader said that the workforce is on site for “only four hours a day, maybe half an hour either side”.

Shopkeepers have said that they are happy for the improvements to the road and the pavement.

One-way traffic is in operation from 9.30am to 3.30pm each day.

Taylor Goss, owner of Moffats the outdoor equipment and fashion shop, said: “While they are here, they work really hard. But closing the footpath has pretty much killed our trade.

“The signs are up on the High Street saying that the footpath is closed and people aren’t walking down any further.”

A customer at the nail bar said that it is “making it very difficult to get to these shops”.

Major works are planned in North Street by Surrey County Council. They will include resurfacing nearly 400m of North Street from Chertsey Street to Commercial Road. The work will be completed by March 2019.

Delays to roadworks in Tunsgate led to much frustration by shopkeepers and accusations of a lack of consultation.

Cllr Mark Brett-Warburton, Conservative Surrey County Councillor for Guildford South-East division, said: “The objective when carrying out this type of improvement is to complete the work as quickly as possible with as little disruption as possible.

“I am concerned to hear that the works are having a detrimental impact on the shops and their trade, but hope that the short-term frustration will be offset by the long-term benefits of a safer pedestrian realm outside those shops.”

A Surrey County Council spokesperson said: “I can advise that the engineer of this scheme has informed us that he will look into this matter to see if there is any way to reopen the footway in a manner that ensures safety for pedestrians and the workforce.”

Screenshot from Surrey County Council roadworks website showing the location of the works on North Street and the extent of the traffic management.

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