Agenda item

To agree a maintenance strategy for Guildford High Street setts.

The Local Committee for Guildford agreed:

(i)     the setts in Guildford High Street should be re-laid in their entirety, rather than repairing damaged sections only as has been the case in the past, with work commencing in 2014/15. 

(ii)   The Area Highways Manager, in consultation with the Chairman of the Local Committee and the Guildford Borough Council Lead Councillor for Town Centre Planning and Infrastructure, will establish a Steering Group (as described in paragraphs 4.1-4.4 of this report) to advise and consult on standards for installation, the manner in which work is carried out (with consideration of potential for disruption), the timescale for completion (with consideration of available funding) and future protection of completed work.        

(iii)the committee will explore sources of funding from 2014/15 onwards.

(iv)Surrey County Council’s central Asset Management Team is asked to contribute towards funding.

(v)   Guildford Borough Council is asked to work in partnership with Surrey County Council on this project and direct funding as it becomes available.  

(vi)The Area Highways Manager will report back to the Local Committee on progress either through the standard Highways Update reports or separately as appropriate.

REASONS:

Guildford's steeply sloping High Street is perhaps the most iconic road in Surrey, contributing to the charm of a historic county town which attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. The road served as backdrop to the finish of the 2012 Tour of Britain cycle race, as it will again in 2013, and was part of the Olympic torch route. It is also one of the most successful high turnover retail streets in the country.  

Areas of the granite setts that form the carriageway in the High Street have been re-laid over the years, resulting in a patchwork appearance. Various areas remain in need of repair and ongoing deterioration can be expected through the length of the road. 

In order to bring this flagship road up to a good and uniform standard it is recommended that the maintenance strategy should be to re-lay the setts entirely, rather than continue to repair failed areas on an ad-hoc basis.  

The Area Highways Manager spoke to the report.

The proposal before the committee was to agree an approach to the surface repair of Guildford High Street. Members agreed that the High Street was materially and culturally important and that piecemeal repairs of the High Street setts over the years had resulted in a patchwork effect of varying quality. They further agreed that a joint approach between the local authorities and other stakeholders would be both desirable and essential given the likely costs. The meeting heard that although it was unlikely that planning contributions could be a source of funding the borough council was committed to make a contribution to the costs. It was proposed that local businesses could make a contribution and that a bid could be submitted to other funding bodies such as English Heritage. Members would include this project alongside other spending commitments when the 2014/5 Highways budget was considered later in the year. Members were unanimous that any contractual work undertaken on the High Street in future must include an agreement with contractors to replace the setts to an identified and identical quality.

The Local Committee for Guildford agreed:

(i)     the setts in Guildford High Street should be re-laid in their entirety, rather than repairing damaged sections only as has been the case in the past, with work commencing in 2014/15. 

(ii)   The Area Highways Manager, in consultation with the Chairman of the Local Committee and the Guildford Borough Council Lead Councillor for Town Centre Planning and Infrastructure, will establish a Steering Group (as described in paragraphs 4.1-4.4 of this report) to advise and consult on standards for installation, the manner in which work is carried out (with consideration of potential for disruption), the timescale for completion (with consideration of available funding) and future protection of completed work.        

(iii)the committee will explore sources of funding from 2014/15 onwards.

(iv)Surrey County Council’s central Asset Management Team is asked to contribute towards funding.

(v)   Guildford Borough Council is asked to work in partnership with Surrey County Council on this project and direct funding as it becomes available.  

(vi)The Area Highways Manager will report back to the Local Committee on progress either through the standard Highways Update reports or separately as appropriate.

REASONS:

Guildford's steeply sloping High Street is perhaps the most iconic road in Surrey, contributing to the charm of a historic county town which attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. The road served as backdrop to the finish of the 2012 Tour of Britain cycle race, as it will again in 2013, and was part of the Olympic torch route. It is also one of the most successful high turnover retail streets in the country.  

Areas of the granite setts that form the carriageway in the High Street have been re-laid over the years, resulting in a patchwork appearance. Various areas remain in need of repair and ongoing deterioration can be expected through the length of the road. 

In order to bring this flagship road up to a good and uniform standard it is recommended that the maintenance strategy should be to re-lay the setts entirely, rather than continue to repair failed areas on an ad-hoc basis.