Vision Group Expresses Support for Masterplan at Public Meeting

Published on: 8 Oct, 2015
Updated on: 8 Oct, 2015

GVG envisage a new ‘Calatrava’ bridge incorporated into Guildford’s townscape to help deal with the town’s traffic problems. The artist’s impression view is taken from a new Bedford Wharf bridge looking north towards Bedford Road Car Park.

Guildford Vision Group (GVG) this week came out strongly in favour of the outline plans for the centre of Guildford.

Group spokesmen applauded Guildford Borough Council for commissioning the Town Centre Masterplan, but wanted more study of the traffic and road options, including GVG’s own proposal for a new rail/river bridge linking York and Guildford Park Roads.

Almost 200 people attended the Vision Group’s public meeting at Holy Trinity Church on Monday evening (October 5).

John Rigg, GVG chairman addressing the audience of almost 200 – Photo: © Georgie Lyon 2015.

The audience heard speakers, led by John Rigg, GVG chairman, review the plan, produced by urban planners Allies & Morrison for Guildford Borough Council.

The plan envisages co-ordinated development across the town centre, including much needed housing in clusters close to the riverside, especially along Woodbridge Meadows and a realigned Walnut Tree Close.

The meeting focused particularly on the traffic and road plans incorporated in the masterplan, with two scenarios set out for consultation.

Julian Lyon, GVG member and Guildford Society chairman was another speaker – Photo: © Georgie Lyon 2015.

A GVG spokesperson said: “We support one of the scenarios described in the masterplan in which two way traffic would pass over Town Bridge, re-opened to motor traffic, along Park Street then down Bridge Street to Onslow Street, heading north.

“Friary Bridge would be demolished and replaced by a much lighter pedestrian bridge. This rearrangement would free up the riverside and the area between the bottom of both the High Street and North Street for public open space and leisure activities.”

Further improvement and public space gains under the preferred scenario, GVG maintained, would be obtained by taking traffic from Park Street, over the Farnham Road Bridge and along Guildford Park Road.

The route would then swing over the railway and river, courtesy of a new bridge at the north end of the station, to link with the York Road/ Woodbridge Road roundabout. This would allow Bridge Street to be fully pedestrianised, apart from buses, taxis and ‘blue badge’ access.

GVG’s proposed road layout improvement.

GVG accepts that its bridge might form part of a second phase, provided the expected Solum railway station developments, along Walnut Tree Close, did not prevent it. The vision group would like to see the space safeguarded in the Local Plan currently being re-drafted.

The Allies & Morrison’s plan allows for considerable development of exclusive cycle, pedestrian and bus routes linking across key town areas to cause a ‘modal shift’ in travel habits with car use discouraged and more use of ‘park & ride’ and ‘park & stride’, and ‘interceptor car parks’. The plan is dependent on such a shift, to achieve a reduction in motor traffic by as much as 20% at times, according to GVG’s calculations.

Transport experts from the Guildford Vision Group called for more transparency in the traffic modelling undertaken. They queried how much modal shift will really be possible, given Guildford’s situation as a gap town, divided by rail and river, with a hilly topography.

The GVG spokesman added: “We have proposed five key tests of the masterplan. It should:

• Enable full pedestrianisation in the town centre; especially from the railway station
• Recover the riverside
• Make placemaking* a priority
• Deliver an integrated transport hub & interchange
• Reunite east and west Guildford; currently the only link is the ageing Farnham Road bridge

“GVG remains very positive about the masterplan and suggests “Scenario 1″ goes a long way to meet its key tests. But boldness – in plans, design and delivery – should be the council’s aim.”

All speakers encouraged residents and businesses to get involved in the public consultation, just launched by Guildford Borough Council (GBC) on the future development of the town centre.

Council leader Stephen Mansbridge addressing to meeting, encouraging participation in the just launched public consultation – Photo: © Georgie Lyon 2015.

A good number of councillors and officers were in the audience, including the council leader, Stephen Mansbridge, and the managing director, Sue Sturgeon, as well as councillors and party members from across Guildford’s political spectrum.

Cllr Mansbridge addressed the audience at the end of the meeting and, in a well received speech, suggested the masterplan represented a unique opportunity to take the town and borough forward to meet the challenge posed by other centres to Guildford’s economic health and long term survival.

* Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Placemaking capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well being. Source Wikipedia

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