County council rejects active travel scheme again

The plans were proposed for London Road in Guildford, which is a major route to and from the A3

A decision to reject plans aiming to encourage cycling and walking in Guildford has been upheld.

The communities, environment and highways select committee at Surrey County Council had voted in favour of asking senior Conservative councillors to reconsider the active travel scheme, which included segregated footpaths and cycleways.

But on Tuesday, the cabinet refused the proposals for London Road, between Boxgrove Road and New Inn Lane, over concerns cyclists would endanger pedestrians and there would not be enough space for heavy goods vehicles on the road.

Surrey leader Tim Oliver said he could not see that any new evidence had been put forward to make the councillors change their minds.

Council officers had recommended that the scheme for the major route into Guildford from the A3 should go ahead.

But the issue has divided opinion amongst residents and campaign groups.

The Guildford Bike User Group (G-Bug) had argued that the proposals would be safer for both pedestrians and cyclists than the current road, while the Surrey Coalition for Disabled People said it was opposed to shared spaces at bus stops and on the pavement.

At the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mr Oliver said they had received a series of letters from members of the public.

He said: “At the end of the day there is nothing that I have seen or we have seen that changes our view on the decision that was made by the cabinet on the 29 October.

“So that decision will still stand. We will not progress with that part of the scheme.”