Vision Group Calls For Bold Measures To Tackle Guildford’s Traffic Problems

Published on: 30 Jan, 2020
Updated on: 30 Jan, 2020

The aptly-named Guildford Vision Group (GVG) has marked the start of the new decade with a far-reaching agenda for comprehensive change in Guildford, starting by encouraging the borough council to consider much bolder initiatives to deal with town centre traffic.

The present layout, it says, produces chronic pollution, congestion and serious accidents, some fatal. And we are facing the impact of the additional 10,000-plus vehicles brought by new homes.

Traffic building up in Onslow Street.

GVG says that over the next 10 to 15 years, about 14,000 home will be built, 80% of them on the fringes of town on green-belt sites. Their 10,000 or more additional cars threaten traffic chaos, unless we adopt efficient and attractively-priced alternative modes of travel.

Transfer pods in use at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5. Picture issued by GVG.

Some of thr group’s more radical suggestions include people-moving systems not unlike the pods at Heathrow Terminal 5 and trams/tram trains, rail, and autonomous minibuses.

Such mass transit systems are already used elsewhere, especially abroad.

For the past eight years, GVG has put forward its own masterplan, with a key piece of new infrastructure, a new east-west corridor to take traffic away from the heart of Guildford.

Its proposed road layout caters for only a relatively modest growth of 10% or so, in present traffic levels.

Bill Stokoe, Guildford Vision Group.

The chairman of GVG, Bill Stokoe, said: “With our corridor proposal we simply want to move traffic and the associated pollution away from the heart of our town to allow pedestrians to be centre stage.

“It is a relatively quick and productive solution to allow wider pedestrianisation of the town centre. It delivers exciting public space opportunities, especially along the riversides, and other benefits such as a covered open market.”

GVG believes any short- to medium-term plan for town centre transport must include:

An improved park and ride network, including routes that cross town from one park and ride site to another, more bus lanes, and better use of the rail system, including fast-tracking the proposed new stations.

Better integration of bus and rail services and better interchanges, making public transport easy to use by smart-card ticketing across the rail and bus network and including park and ride.

Using regulation and pricing to help preserve the town. Visitors arriving by road need to be encouraged to use park and ride wherever possible.

Priority should be given to buses.

GVG says the council should not put addressing town centre traffic issues on hold until the A3 improvement through Guildford is completed.

It exhort residents and businesses not to just stand by and see the town centre gradually fade away. The group agrees there must be wide public acceptance that bold measures must be taken and asks if people are prepared to change their habits.

What will change them? Pricing? Law and regulation? Wholehearted acceptance of the climate change case? GVG is calling for ideas from the people, to be emailed to info@guildfordvisiongroup.com

Story based on a press release issued by the Guildford Vision Group.

Responses to Vision Group Calls For Bold Measures To Tackle Guildford’s Traffic Problems

Jim Allen Reply

January 30, 2020 at 2:35 pm

As I have said many times before: survey the whole borough to find out where people want to go to and from.

Not just current public transport users because no one can answer that question yet, its all presumption.

Buses to sit at the train station meeting the trains – compulsory purchase order land if Network Rail refuse access without charging.

Simple cure for Guildford town centre traffic is to move through traffic well away from the centre.

Link A25 with A3 through Gosden Hill new village.

Park and ride direct to park and ride and station.

Tunnel from Gosden Hill to Compton and Compton bypass to Godalming and Bramley. Job done!
RWL Davies Reply

January 30, 2020 at 2:57 pm

The GVG suggestions are sensible and practical.

Particularly, “the council should not put addressing town centre traffic issues on hold until the A3 improvement through Guildford is completed.”

For the benefit of Guildford residents, businesses and visitors, irrespective of local politics and sundry vested interests, this “can” cannot be “kicked down the road”.

Awaiting “A3 improvements”, a reason for GBC to delay “difficult” decisions perhaps?
Mike Forster Reply

January 31, 2020 at 2:57 pm

The proposals tabled by GVG are well worth considering because any potential improvements to the A3 are highly unlikely to improve traffic flow within the town centre.

Any potential A3 improvements are a long way off and the town centre desperately needs proactive action now.

Also, the much needed master plan for the town centre is of vital importance and should be expedited as quickly as possible.
Sue Chadwick Reply

February 2, 2020 at 3:14 pm

Perhaps a car-free day could be staged to demonstrate the benefits of a traffic-free town centre.

The effects of air quality on health are well established, but not everyone realises how significant an impact idling cars have on air quality, nor the fact that those inside cars can be subject to even higher levels of toxic pollutants than those outside.