Volunteers have been working behind the scenes to link up bits of off-road tracks, paths and bridleways to form an active travel network, with a working title of The Guildford Godalming Greenway. Having got the support of Godalming Town Council, Waverley and Guildford Councils, it was then down to the proper highway planners at Surrey County Council to get involved with a feasibility study.
The proposals can be seen here and a public consultation is now open. Godalming has a severe air quality problem with Bridge Road and Flambard Way being an Air Quality Action zone (whose data may have been ‘lost’ under the previous Conservative administration!), with roads clogged every morning with Chelsea tractors delivering children to nurseries and schools twice a day. Now if only some of them could have a safe greenway to link Farncombe and Godalming.
These proposals have upset the anti-cycling lobby on Facebook, with cries of ‘Stop the Lycra Louts on the Lammas Lands’. Other residents with a view of the routes, and dog walkers, are terrified of the nature destroying impact of some potential reinforced paths or god forbid boardwalks across the sacred Lammas Lands (Go to a nature reserve, and you’ll find a boardwalk!). Only existing users should continue to access the Lammas lands apparently.
Surrey County Council have organised two drop in sessions for locals to let off steam with the Project Team:
• Godalming Library, Saturday 30 October, 10:00 – 13:00
• Waverley Borough Council Office (Reception area), Thursday 4 November, 15:00 – 19:30