Introduction

This information sheet has been compiled to answer some of the frequently asked questions raised as part of the initial consultation on Park and Ride in Worplesdon.

The identified sites are to be assessed as set out later in this document. Once the assessments have been completed, public consultation will be carried out, either late 2008 or early 2009.

Comments received will then be collated and put to the council’s Executive committee to inform the way forward.

Background

Park and Ride was first established in Guildford in 1996 in partnership with the Highway Authority, Surrey County Council. The principle is supported in policy adopted by Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council in the Surrey Local Transport Plan, the Surrey Structure Plan and the Guildford Borough Local Plan. Government support is contained in its Planning Policy Guidance which the local authorities are required to adhere to.

Site locations

The strategy for Park and Ride in Guildford is currently being reviewed by the borough and county councils but its aim is to provide a site on each of the corridors leading to the town centre. To date, sites for Park and Ride have been developed, allocated, or are being sought as set out below.

Southern corridor

A permanent Park and Ride site for 447 spaces has been developed at Artington. An extension for a further 270 spaces is approved and programmed for construction later this year.

Western corridor

A site has been secured for Park and Ride as part of the University’s Manor Farm expansion development for approximately 500 spaces. Programme for construction is not yet confirmed.

Eastern corridor

A Park and Ride site has been developed for 250 spaces at Spectrum to serve the north east area. Construction of a site for 335 spaces at Merrow to serve the eastern approaches will be completed towards the end of 2008.

Northern corridor

A site to serve the northern corridor is now being sought.
Initially, 5 sites were identified by the council on the northern corridor, in Worplesdon, with potential for Park and Ride development. They were adjacent, or near to, the A322 and A323, with one adjacent to Saltbox Road.

They were selected because they met most of the criteria for Park and Ride.

This includes:

• locations on the edge of or adjoining the urban area to reduce journey length and time to the town centre
• close to a major approach route with most demand
• visible from the route so users have easy access and do not have to navigate far to the site and attract ‘passing trade’
• opportunity for bus priority measures inbound and outbound from town centre

As part of the initial Guildford Development Framework Site Allocations¹ exercise, these 5 sites were also consulted on. Although consultation was carried out at the same time, it was designed to enable people to comment on the two aspects separately.

In future, consultation on Site Allocations and Park and Ride will progress independently due to their differing timescales.

Please be aware that as there are two separate consultations, Site Allocations and Park and Ride, you will need to comment separately on each. There is no need to comment again on the original 5 sites if you have already done so during the first consultation.

The initial consultation on the 5 sites resulted in further sites being put forward.
These are as follows:

1. Worplesdon Station
2. Merrist Wood
3. Whitmoor pond - land adjacent to Havering Farm, A320
4. Cobbett Hill Common on junction with A323 (consultee may mean Clasford Common)
5. Common land on A281 on approach to Shalford
6. Stringers Barn, Saltbox Road
7. Fields at Perry Hill Farm
8. Henley Park, Normandy
9. Westfield Road, Slyfield Industrial Estate
10. Moorfield Road, Slyfield Industrial Estate
11. Tangley Place laboratory
12. Broad Street Common
13. Littlefield Common opposite Fairlands

It is not necessary, as part of this consultation, to suggest further sites for Park and Ride.

Consultants reports, commissioned by Surrey County Council, conclude that the road with the greatest demand and greater possibility for bus priority measures is the A322.

The council will therefore be concentrating on identifying a site on this corridor in addition to those already identified on other corridors elsewhere in the borough but not yet programmed, for instance, University Manor Farm.

Identifying sites is the initial stage of the process.

Next steps:

The sites will now be assessed in terms of such things as:

• traffic impact
• capacity for achieving an efficient and reliable route into and out of Guildford 
• surface water/drainage
• ecology and other environmental constraints
• archaeology
• Issues around Special Protection Areas for some species of birds helped by Natural England.

It is now planned to carry out this work, with further consultation being carried out on the findings late in 2008 or early 2009.

1 All local authorities are required to produce a Local Development Framework. In Guildford we are preparing the Guildford Development Framework (GDF) which will be the new plan for future use of land and buildings in the borough. The GDF is made up of a number of elements, one of which is Site Allocations.

 

Transportation Team
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB

Tel: 01483 444549
Email: transport@guildford.gov.uk