2. Put in place infrastructure to allow innovative, sustainable development whilst maintaining Guildford’s distinctiveness & quality of life

Residents do not want Guildford to become just like any other town. To enhance our distinctiveness we have to:

• Reduce through traffic to enhance the character of the town centre and surrounding residential areas, improve access to and across the river and provide a better shopping, business and leisure experience.
  • Reduce car dependency for journeys to the town centre by providing improved, affordable public transport, encouraging cycling and walking and integrating transport networks.
  • Provide bus pick up and drop off points near all key facilities and a central bus interchange.
  • Enhance the centre of Guildford in ways that do not just extend the current gyratory congestion outwards into surrounding residential communities.
  • Increase the number of crossing points over the railway and the river to unify the town.
• Plan for new homes to meet priority needs and enhance rather than undermine existing communities.
  • Challenge housing proposals that are at odds with what the town needs or can sustain.
  • Recognise in housing figures that people travel to and from London and other settlements to work.
• Pursue an imaginative approach to how the town centre, research park, Slyfield and other business sites can be enhanced to support and attract innovation and enterprise to underpin Guildford’s economy.
  • Recognise significant changes in the nature of retailing, the qualities that attract high technology, medical and creative businesses, the shift to home working and the need for virtual international links.              
• Engage with all relevant authorities to find a solution for the A3 which:
  • Separates the need for a trunk road connecting London to Portsmouth from the needs of local traffic
  • Allows the town to become as one and reduces noise and air pollution.
• Defend the diversity and identity of  local communities around the town centre by:
  • Encouraging small local shops and community cultural and leisure facilities. 

ACTIONS:

Transport:

1. Set up a team of GBC, Surrey County Council, the Highways Agency and community representatives to identify shorter and longer term solutions to traffic and parking issues.
2. Provide a clean, attractive, cutting edge central bus interchange with full connectivity across Guildford.
3. Ensure the railway station is readily accessible from both sides of the track to avoid the need for traffic to cross pinch points.   
4. Improve connectivity between the town centre, research park and Slyfield by promoting clean, affordable, frequent public transport and retain the green, residential character of connecting routes.
5. Ensure development at sites such as  the station, Bedford Road and along North Street is compatible with transport capacity, does not jeopardise future plans and contributes to transport and parking solutions.
6. Do not allow development or town centre pedestrianisation that will increase traffic on the gyratory and feeder roads until a transport strategy is in place that either makes new and displaced traffic acceptable or improves access in ways that avoid extra traffic.
7. Institute a 50mph speed limit along the A3 through the entire town to reduce accidents and road noise.
8. Press for low noise tarmac on Guildford’s A roads and a strategy to reduce traffic speeds, pollution, congestion and accidents.

Development:

1. Integrate both small units for innovative enterprises and character residential buildings into the town centre.
2. Provide more student housing on the University site to free up homes used as student accommodation in the town and also strengthen relationships between the University, residents and businesses.    
3. Ensure the relocation and upgrading of the sewage works at Slyfield.  This is needed to overcome pollution and other problems caused by the inadequate and outdated facility and will also unblock development potential at Slyfield.
4. On development sites, promote use of permeable surfaces and ponds to slow runoff, rainwater capture and grey water use, on- site composting, sensitively designed property level energy generation and efficiency measures, cycle storage and installation of advanced cable links.    
5. Support the retention and provision of local facilities within each residential community (e.g. provide local convenience shops, a pub, restaurant and community hall)

Welcome restaurants and cafes, but not expansion of inappropriate night-time leisure, such as late night drinking at the GLive end of the town which is residential.