To receive any questions from Surrey County Council electors within the area in accordance with Standing Order 66.
Minutes:
There were four written questions from members of the public received by the specified deadline.
Question 1 from John Oliver
I fully understand that the Newlands Corner site in itself does not fall within the remit of the Guildford Local Committee. However, Drove Road, which bisects the site, is a public highway/bridleway and, therefore, does fall within the Committee’s remit. Surrey County Council has stated its intention to restructure the car park without defining what this means.
Could you please let me know:
What discussions, either face to face or through correspondence, have taken place with the SCC Countryside Group, its Director or Assistant Director or the SCC Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning about the restructure, what those discussions entailed and what outcomes and decisions, if any, were reached as a result of them;
If the restructure was to involve the resurfacing of the car park area, would the Highways Department pay for the resurfacing of that part of the whole area which is Drove Road
What steps will be taken to ensure that car parking spaces do not encroach onto Drove Road?”
The following written response was provided to Mr Oliver:
Public Bridleway 147 Albury runs through the car parking area at Newlands Corner and as you rightly point out, is shown on many Ordnance Survey maps as 'Drove Road'. It is therefore open to walkers, cyclists and equestrians. There are no plans to alter the route either physically, such as resurfacing as part of the car park or legally, with a change to the alignment or status.
The Countryside Access Team have been consulted in this matter and bridleway use will not be adversely affected by the parking arrangements.
Question 2 from Dylan White
On the invitation of Cllr Graham Ellwood I spoke at this meeting on 8th Dec 15. At that I outlined the problems ALDI were causing the residents of north east Guildford and also proposed some solutions. Cllr. Ellwood thought these solutions were all worth pursuing so as we’re a year further on and the busiest month is upon us, I’d like to find out what progress has been made.
These solutions are based on ALDI’s current permitted conditions which they themselves admit they break on a daily basis so should their appeal be successful and they are allowed even more HGV deliveries the situation for us residents is only going to get worse so these solutions will become even more urgent.
To recap, my solutions to the car park being too small and there not being a separate delivery entrance are as follows:
Clearly shoppers need to be got in and out of the store as fast as possible. So all 8 tills need to be constantly manned and helpers need to be on each till to assist with bag packing. I’ve seen times when only 3 tills are manned with large queues at each.
Plenty of staff need to be on hand to assist people in finding what they want so they don’t waste time trying to find things.
The parking time allowed needs to be reduced to an hour which GBC will need to enforce as this is the only way to get cars in and out fast enough to stop the tailbacks onto the roundabout.
These tailbacks cause drivers who are just trying to get passed to then drive on the wrong side of Burpham lane. This is an accident waiting to happen!!
So to forewarn cars turning right out of the store, I suggested the following sign is put up on ALDI’s land by the exit: Warning if turning right be aware of vehicles coming on the wrong side of the road.
Where are we with all this?
An oral answer was provided explaining that most of these issues were outside the remit of the local committee, but it was agreed that Cllr Ellwood would have a discussion with Mr White outside of the meeting with a view to discussing the concerns again with Aldi.
Question 3 from Colin Selvin
The Transport Group of The Guildford Society wish to be made aware of progress in dealing with the shortcomings in the design and operation of the traffic signals on York Road outside Waitrose Guildford, specifically the issue of control of vehicles turning right upon exiting the car park.
It is apparent this issue is unresolved given one of the signals continues to be covered with an orange bag. A petition relating to this was considered at the June Guildford Local Committee & we believe none of this was raised at the September Local Committee.
The following written response was provided to Mr Selvin:
Following the related question to the June 2016 meeting, county council officers and the Surrey Police met on site to further view and discuss the signal problems at the A246 York Road / Waitrose store access. A solution was found that officers hope will alleviate or at least significantly reduce the uncertainty, that drivers turning right to exit the store experience when they near the adjacent pedestrian crossing.
The rational is to add a further signal head opposite the Waitrose exit, to increase their certainty about having authorization to exit the store. And so far as is possible, to move signal heads on the A246 eastbound approach away from the pedestrian crossing, to reduce the uncertainty that right turning drivers exiting the store seem to experience when approaching that pedestrian crossing.
At the end of July 2016, officers put these suggested changes to Waitrose via their transport consultants - Glanville. After a number of prompts by officers, in October 2016 Glanville indicated that they were engaging a specialist traffic signals company - Siemens - to undertake the suggested alterations, but they were unable to commit to a timetable.
In early November 2016 Siemens made a miscellaneous enquiry to the county council. Officers replied to this in early November. Also in early November officers wrote to Glanville expressing ongoing concern that this and other matters associated with the store's highway works, were running on and not being resolved. Text from this latter message is repeated below. At the time of writing this update to the committee, officers have received nothing further from Waitrose's team.
Officers will appreciate the committee's endorsement, that Waitrose should complete the outstanding matters associated with the store highway works, as soon as is possible.
"…. The [highway] works were finished at the end of 2015. The [highway works agreement] Provisional Certificate has yet to be issued, because of the incomplete snags. The [highway works] agreement clause 15 states that the [highway] works in the three works areas should be completed within 10-16 weeks from commencement, which is overdue for all areas. Can I please have your client's firm intentions and timetable, concerning completing the [highway agreement] works, up to a stage where SCC can issue the [highway works agreement] Provisional Certificate. …."
Question 4 from Andrew Hodges
Other than parking restrictions and scheme D4016 (Item 11 on the agenda), what proposals are there for any work in Wodeland Avenue Guildford, and roads off it?
The following written response was provided to Mr Hodges:
Paragraph 1.10 of agenda item 11 'Highways Budgets for 2017/18' lists the schemes recommended for funding in 2017/18 by the Transportation Task Group. This includes a recommended allocation of 10,000 for additional speed cushions in Wodeland Avenue. No further highways works are currently planned in Wodeland Avenue or the roads off it.