Surrey County Council is considering whether to support stage 1
Surrey County Council will meet in November 2024 to decide whether to go ahead with stage 1 of the scheme. GBUG fully supports the scheme.
What is stage 1?
From Boxgrove roundabout to Aldi:
- Safer cycle paths, with a significant length segregated from the road and up at pavement level.
- Creating new crossing points
- Upgrading bus stops
More detailed information is available here.
Why GBUG supports stage 1 of the scheme
Since the council’s decision in February to further review stage 1, a report was commissioned looking into the roads widths, and the use of shared pedestrian cycle paths. The report concluded that:
- The road width of 6.5m is not a concern for HGVs to pass each other.
- Shared use paths for stretches are acceptable. GBUG fully supports this.
Some residents were concerned about injuries to pedestrians from cyclists on shared use paths:
- Surrey Police has no records of any injuries from the existing shared use paths on London Road for the last 5 years. In the whole of Surrey, there were only 3 pedestrians injured by a bicycle in 2022 (Source: FoI request to Surrey Police). The dangers are not from bicycles. The danger to pedestrians is from cars: 335 pedestrians in Surrey were killed or injured in 2022 (source www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets).
- Surrey already has over 128 miles of shared use path.
The 35 cyclists injured along London Road in the last ten years want this scheme, cyclists are 1% of the traffic but 30% of the accidents. This is a dangerous road please make it safer! These 35 casualties have cost Surrey £939,400 (source Safety Cameras Report).
Previous decision on the full scheme
GBUG were very disappointed with Surrey County Council’s decision, announced on 27th February that:
- the active travel scheme between the town center and Boxgrove Roundabout will not go ahead,
- the scheme between Boxgrove Roundabout and Aldi in Burpham (stage 1) will be subject to further review and decision at a later date.
- Improvements to Boxgrove Roundabout will at least go ahead.
Fundamental flaws
GBUG strongly feels there are fundamental flaws in the council’s decision in February. We urge the council now to approve as soon as possible the bike lane improvements already designed for stage 1, and to reverse the cancellation of stage 3 whilst appropriate and available alternative options are properly reviewed.
Some fundamental flaws include:
- For all three sections of the London Road Active Travel Scheme (plus or minus 1-2%), 50% of all respondents to the SCC public engagement survey were in favour of the scheme, way ahead of the 30% against.
- In addition to the backing of the public and Surrey Highways professional staff, these formal consultees engaged also provided their support, including:
- George Abbot School (2.5k students),
- Guildford High School (1.5k students),
- Family Voice (Parent and Carer Forum),
- Residents of Clockhouse Retirement Home,
- Emergency Services (South East Coast Ambulance Service, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Surrey Police)
- Stagecoach Bus Company.
- The safety of shared use paths was given as a main reason for the re-review of Section 1. However, of over 3,630 road traffic collisions in Surrey in 2022 recorded by Surrey Police (source www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets), only 3 were between pedestrians and cyclists (both on and off road) (Source: FoI request to Surrey Police).
Read GBUG’s full write up of the Fundamental Flaws which was submitted to Surrey County Council.
Scheme details
To understand the original scheme, we recommend watching the quick video flyover of the scheme, or more detailed information is available here.
What was proposed?
- Safer cycle paths, with a significant length segregated from the road and up at pavement level.
- Upgrading the existing roundabouts to provide safer crossings for cyclists and pedestrians
- Creating new crossing points
- Upgrading bus stops
Benefits of the full scheme
GBUG sees that the benefits of the full scheme are:
- Allow children to cycle to school. Give them the joy of freedom and independence.
Proximity of children to schools and nurseries – many pupils are in cycling distance and could cycle if it was safe to do so. There are seven schools in the area.
- George Abbot School 1973 pupils, 2023 intake on distance was 4.2km
- Burpham Primary School 434 pupils, 2022 intake on distance was 2.2km
- Boxgrove Primary School 631 pupils, 2022 intake on distance was 3.2km
- St Peter’s Roman Catholic School 212 pupils
- Guildford High School approximately 1000 pupils
- Royal Grammar School
- Tormead
- There are six nurseries in the area.
- Peter Rabbit Nursery School ~ 250m
- Sunshine Nursery ~ 140m
- Burpham Pre-School ~ 340m
- Christopher Robin Day Nursery ~ 510m
- Busy Bees at Guildford ~ 175m
- Christchurch Pre-School ~ 260m (ref Equalities Impact Assessment)
- Climate change – we need to reduce our carbon footprint. Surrey County Council needs to reduce carbon emissions to deliver on Surrey’s net zero ambition by 2050. 40% of Surrey’s emissions are from vehicles (ref Surrey’s Climate Change Strategy 2020) and this scheme will allow people to swap vehicle journeys for cycling and walking.
- Improved health and mental wellbeing. People who cycle live six months longer, for every 75 minutes of cycling each week (ref research by Utrecht University). GPs in 11 local authorities can prescribe bicycles (ref government press release). Twenty minutes of walking or cycling per day reduce the risks of developing depression reduce by 31% (ref Transport Strategy Stage 2 Report, Shaping Guildford’s Future).
- Reduced burden on NHS.
- Its more fun to cycle rather than sit in a car!
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Inclusivity. Paths segregated from motor traffic encourage children and less confident cyclists to take up cycling.
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More people using active travel creates a greater sense of community as people stop and talk to each other and this doesn’t happen in motor vehicles.
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Most short journeys could be taken on foot or by bicycle if there was better infrastructure. In Guildford 44% of peak traffic is for trips less than 4km (ref Transport Strategy Stage 2 Report, Shaping Guildford’s Future). 4km equates to an average 15 minute cycle. These journeys could be by bicycle. This side of Guildford is flat and ideal for easy cycling.
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Reducing pollution.
- This section is part of a wider route for an off road scheme from the Surrey Research Park to Cobham. The M25 junction 10 scheme is building pedestrian/cycle bridges to fill in the missing link. This could be extended to take the route all the way up to London.
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This section is also part of a network of cycleways planned around Guildford to enable people to use active travel to key destination points in Guildford. London road is identified as a key route in the SCC Guildford Cycling Plan (2015), GBC Guildford Borough Transport Strategy (2017) and GBC Guildford Cycle Route Assessments report (2020) and appendices. The London Road cycleways will link to existing cycle routes along Clay Lane to Jacobs Well and Ladymead to the Science Park.
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Reducing accidents for pedestrians and cyclists.
- London, Cambridge and Bristol have implemented similar schemes with great success. Guildford can do the same.
We need your help! To help GBUG campaign for the London Road Active Travel Scheme, join our mailing list or email info@g-bug.org.
Previous Posts on London Road Active Travel Scheme
- GBUG are delighted that the council will re-consider their decision on the London Road Active Travel scheme
GBUG along with others, called in Surrey County Council’s decision not to go ahead with the London Road Active Travel scheme as we believed the decision was not based on the evidence. For example, many objections to the scheme were given due to the design of floating bus stops, however these were removed from the… - Huge disappointment as council decides not to go ahead with London road schemeGBUG are incredibly disappointment that Surrey County Council voted not to go ahead with stage 1 of the London Road Active Travel Scheme. GBUG spoke at the council decision meeting, and have supported the scheme throughout. The scheme would have increased safety for all pedestrians and cyclists along this route.
- London Road Scheme: We need your help!
Stage 1 of the London Road Active Travel Scheme runs from Boxgrove Roundabout to Aldi and includes: Please support this scheme by by emailing all Surrey County Council cabinet members* before the middle of October. Please add one or two sentences as to why this is important for you and your family. Be sure to… - Fundamental Flaws in Council Decision on London Road Active Travel SchemeGBUG were very disappointed with Surrey County Council’s decision, announced on 27th February that: Fundamental flaws GBUG strongly feels there are fundamental flaws in the council’s decision. We urge the council now to approve as soon as possible the bike lane improvements already designed for section one, and to reverse the cancellation of section three…
- 27th February Surrey County Council decide on London Road
Is active travel, the planet and Juliette’s life important? If so, Surrey County Council should go ahead with the proposed and government funded improvements along London Road. - Burpham to Guildford (London Road) Active Travel Scheme SurveySurrey County Council has now launched the London Road Active Travel Scheme public engagement. Your support is vital to ensure this fully funded project goes ahead. Express your views now via the Council’s public engagement survey or see GBUG’s thoughts on the scheme.
- London Road – Ideas for Consultation Questions
Surrey County Council have launched a Miro board exercise. Here you can post questions you would like to have answered as part of the London Road Active Travel project consultation, due in September. The Miro Board is only open until Tuesday evening, so please make your thoughts known. Examples of questions you might like to… - Update: London Road Active Travel SchemeYou may be wondering why it’s all gone a bit quiet. Well it hasn’t. The Stakeholder group of interested local parties, including G-BUG, has met twice, and will meet two further times by end July. The Group’s purpose is to help design the public consultation package that will give you your chance to express your…
- London Road Active Travel Scheme
Check out the Guildford Dragon article on the London Road Active Travel scheme written by G-BUG. - Support two new cycle schemes for Guildford
We need your help to secure funding for two new cycle schemes for Guildford. Surrey County Council (SCC) has been awarded £6.4M from Tranche 2 of the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF). SCC has identified 10 potential projects across the county, costing a total of £7.8M. Given the shortfall, it will be… - SCC EATF Tranche 2 bidSCC has submitted its bid for the Emergency Active Travel Fund Tranche 2. They say “….10 schemes across the county bid for, totalling £7.8m, against our indicative allocation from DfT of £6.785m, this overbid, we believe shows Surrey’s ambition for active travel.” Two schemes for Guildford are included, namely: We should know by September if…
- G-BUG SCC/GBC liaison meeting 21 May 2020
Link to slides pdf below. The principal topic as usual was to update on the Town Centre Transport Package. Headlines: - G-BUG SCC/GBC liaison meeting 28 January
Representatives of G-BUG met with officials of Surrey County Council (SCC) and Guildford Borough Council (GBC) on 28 January for our regular liaison meeting on all matters cycling in Guildford Borough. Slides from the meeting can be downloaded here. Headlines: Click image to download all slides - SCC/GBC LIAISON MEETING WITH G-BUG 25th November 2019
Slides below. Headlines: Walnut Tree Close one way trial: turning circle to be constructed in Jan/Feb 2020 on Woodbridge Meadows. Trial itself cannot take place until completion of piling for replacement Walnut Bridge, since this will require complete closure of WTC. Hence trial will be 4 months, August-November 2020. A3100 London Road: cycle path from… - SCC/GBC cycling plans for London Road
SCC/GBC have provided their final plans for changes to cycling provision on London Road, between York Road and the Boxgrove Roundabout. In summary, there will be a widened two way shared use pavement on the northbound (Stoke Park) side, between London Road Station and the Boxgrove Roundabout. The existing advisory cycle lane on the southbound… - SCC/GBC Liaison Meetings with G-BUG
Officials of Surrey County Council (SCC) and Guildford Borough Council (GBC) meet informally with representatives of G-BUG to discuss progress with cycling-related projects, proposals and initiatives. These meetings are a useful forum through which G-BUG members can provide feedback so that suggestions for improvement can be included at an early stage. The slide packs presented…