After eight years of planning and consultation, £1.65m of National Highway funding will make a £5.25m cycling and walking corridor from Godalming to Guildford a reality.
Surrey County Council has developed proposals for a 7km cycling and walking corridor from Debenhams in Guildford to Godalming Bridge Road.
The scheme will deliver high-quality active travel infrastructure serving towns and communities.
The scheme aligns with the SCC’s Local Transport Plan Greener Futures agenda and Community Vision for Surrey in 2030. It also supports key policies set by Waverley Borough Council and Guildford Borough Council.
Over 1,000 responses were received to a public consultation in 2021, of which 66% of respondents either supported or strongly supported the proposals.
Many respondents recognised it would provide pedestrians and cyclists a more continuous, attractive, and safer route.
Since then, SCC has developed the scheme’s first phase, concentrating on the southern half of the route between Godalming and Peasmarsh.
Construction would commence in 2024/25, subject to securing further external funding. Subsequent phases of the project will be advanced in future years.
.The total cost of the scheme’s first phase is estimated to be £6.25 million.
SCC will make a capital contribution of up to £1.4 million, with the remaining £4.85 million comprising third-party funding. SCC has already secured a £1.65 million contribution from National Highways (Designated Funds) and is awaiting the outcome of a second application for funding to Active Travel England (Active Travel Fund).
Waverley Council will provide CIL funding, which supports its Local Plan objectives and the aims of its Climate Emergency agenda.
In addition, funds from S106 developer contributions, the value of which will be agreed upon with Waverley to ensure it can be appropriately used on the project. Subject to the outcome of the second application for funding from Active Travel England, both CIL and S106 contributions will either contribute to the overall project or offset SCC capital investment.
So long as the route has delineation lines for hazardous cyclists!
Too often pedestrians are stressed out by the lycra louts who all too often come whizzing by ….with no warning.
Please keep the cyclists off all FOOTpaths!
How can it possibly cost “probably “ £6.25 million to make a 7km footpath/cycle path . Is it gold plated?