The following schemes are provisionally planned to start within the next twelve months. Whilst the information is regularly updated, please note that the information shown is only indicative and subject to a number of factors, many of which are outside our control.
Merrow Park and Ride
Construction of the Council’s latest park and ride car park in Merrow is scheduled to start at the end of April 2008. Dean and Dyball Construction Ltd is the main contractor for the project which will include 335 parking spaces, an access road and waiting area, CCTV and drainage. Environmentally sustainable materials and methods of construction will be used wherever possible.
Drainage design is to modern “SUDS” (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) standards. All surface water run-off will drain towards an infiltration tank at the north western corner of the site where it will soak into the underlying chalk. The tank will have a series of Stormcell* units (which look like a collection of milk crates) buried in the ground to store storm water while it soaks away. Very large storms will also fill the infiltration basin above it, which will be surrounded by an earth bund to increase its capacity. This should be able to cope with storms with a return period of 1 in 100 years, even allowing for increased rainfall from climate change.
Working on chalk will be the main challenge on this site. When chalk is dry it provides a very firm foundation for the road and car park construction. However, when it is wet, the chalk becomes very soft and loses its strength. The otherwise firm chalk base to the car park could be destroyed by construction traffic after heavy rain. Dean and Dyball plan to cover the exposed chalk with a layer of carefully graded sub-base material as soon as they expose it. This will protect the chalk and give them a platform to work on. It will ultimately form part of the access road and car park construction.
We plan to finish the project by October 2008 and everyone on the project team is hoping for a dry summer.
Please visit the park and ride pages for more information on existing park and ride car parks in Guildford Borough.
*Stormcell is a product name used by Hydro International plc. Further information can be found at their website:
http://www.hydro-international.biz/stormwater/stormcell.php (this page opens in a new window)
Dean and Dyball’s website:
http://www.deandyball.co.uk (this page opens in a new window)
Please use the contact details below for further information and advice.
Engineering Services
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444520
Fax: 01483 444511
Email: EnvironmentalPolicyDesignServices@guildford.gov.uk