Walnut Tree Close to be Closed for 10 Weeks for Pavement Works

Published on: 9 Dec, 2023
Updated on: 10 Dec, 2023

Pavement works on Walnut Tree Close will start on Monday, January 8 2024 and last for 10 weeks.

They will take place from Bridge House (Opposite Station Approach) to Kernal Court.

The work will be carried out in short sections and each section will be completed before moving to the next. The first section of works will be from opposite Kernal Court to Addison.

Walnut Tree Close Closure – description of sections. Image taken from the SCC webpage

News came to Walnut Tree Close residents in a letter from Surrey County Council’s works communication team leader at Surrey Highways. It said: “Due to the nature of the work, each section will be fenced off and there will be no access for vehicles whilst this is closed.”

Access will be maintained for residential parking forecourts and underground parking areas. The closure will be in operation 24 hours a day, access will be maintained by foot and vehicle access to the road will still be possible, from either end and up to the closure point.

Map showing the stretch of road which will be closed in stages to allow pavement upgrade. Source SCC

During these works the one-way section of Walnut Tree Close will be suspended to allow access from Woodbridge Meadows – this will be managed by temporary traffic signals.

For more information about these works and details on each section, please visit our
dedicated website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/walnuttreeclose.

Responses to Walnut Tree Close to be Closed for 10 Weeks for Pavement Works

Mark Stamp Reply

December 9, 2023 at 3:55 pm

This section of road was only recently closed. Why can’t SCC plan works like this to happen together to create less disruption?

I hope, although doubt, that the drainage outside Aquatico will finally be fixed. Even a moderate shower leaves a large puddle from the middle of the road, right across the pavement leaving pedestrians to cross over or trust that a car won’t splash them.

Whilst we are on this part of Guildford, is there any word from GBC about when they will get the lights on Walnut Bridge operational?
Ben Paton Reply

December 10, 2023 at 1:56 pm

Two and a half months for some pavement. Are they paving it in gold or taking the proverbial?
- Martin Elliott Reply
  
  December 11, 2023 at 3:04 pm
  
  Whilst the initial petition came from residents of Walnut Tree Close, I’m sure Surrey County Council used a Public Framework for decision making.
  
  It takes into consideration the need, benefits, and drawbacks for all users of the route. If any particular users have a weighting to prioritise, the level of gross disproportion is clearly stated.
  
  Perhaps Cllr Matt Furniss or his team can remind us of these papers as despite over 40 years of info tech I find the council search engines as useful as an alligator.
Valerie Thompson Reply

December 10, 2023 at 5:11 pm

Such idiocy. I agree with Mr Stamp regarding the timing of road works but also, looking at the map, it is clear that Walnut Tree Close should have been left as a two-way road. Closing it in one direction for the benefit of bikes is madness.

Now there is only Woodbridge Road as a throughway from north to south and the width and free-running of traffic is restricted with seldom-used bus-lanes. Geography should dictate the use of roads not cyclists or occasional buses.

Editor’s comment: the cessation of two-way traffic on Walnut Tree Close followed a petition from residents on the road not cyclists and buses do not use the road.
Dave Middleton Reply

December 10, 2023 at 6:20 pm

It’d be nice if, while they were at it, the road surface could be attended to as well. Once you get past the shiny new cycle lane heading towards town, it’s like trying to cycle (and drive), on ploughed tarmac in places.
Bibhas Neogi Reply

December 14, 2023 at 12:21 pm

Instead of tinkering with bits and pieces of Walnut Tree Close, I was tempted to say solutions are there for the County Council to explore but if they have not yet accepted that ideas are available from outside their offices, then there is no point.

Searching the Internet for ‘new solutions to Guidlford traffic’ would be a start and hopefully some useful progress could be made with other suggestions there for improvements to cycle lanes, safer pedestrian routes, regeneration of the riverside in the town centre and wider related traffic issues with the A3 through Guildford.

The A3 is of course the responsibility of National Highways. Its improvements had been in the programme at least three times and then shelved but maybe time is now right to rethink its priority? Maybe the county council should urge National Highways to re-introduce the A3 scheme into their programme.