Scepticism of townsfolk and Cranleigh businesses has prompted Surrey County Council to halt high street road improvements.

For now, Surrey County Council has called a halt to “Improvements’ described as ridiculous by some and backed by others.

 The controversial plans to make Cranleigh’s often gridlocked High Street “safer and more attractive” for locals and visitors have been put on hold after villagers argued there had been a lack of consultation.

Some have described the project as “an obscenely expensive…waste of money”.

However, a SCC spokesperson said:

“Over the last two years, we’ve involved a working group, held two periods of public engagement and received further feedback from the community. We want to create a welcoming environment that supports the local economy by encouraging people to stay longer in the village centre. We will work with the stakeholder group, residents and businesses to ensure that any designs can be constructed as efficiently as possible, with innovative materials which can be installed quickly and a programme of works that allows businesses to remain open at all times.”

Surrey County Council’s (SCC) proposals included improving road safety and enhancing public spaces by widening footways over car parking spaces, removing free car parking, raising traffic tables, and pedestrianising Fountain Square. Still, traders and residents will get another chance to have their say.

Phillip Chapman set up a campaign on Cranleigh High Street. UK, which resulted in over one thousand people urging Surrey to halt the changes it proposed. This was more than double the number of people who had responded to the initial consultation. The locals argued that the consultation methods were not thorough enough. Too many townsfolk were unaware of the details of the proposed changes.

Not On Our High Street – warn Cranleigh residents!

Residents have received letters explaining the proposal’s next steps. A new stakeholder group of residents and businesses will work together to develop potential plans for the High Street. The first meeting of the group was held in May.

Traders claimed the £4m project could massively inconvenience the high street, with motorists avoiding Cranleigh. Some want free car parking to increase footfall and help shop deliveries. Some want free parking right outside their shops!

Free 30-minute parking was floated as a good offering for local businesses. Loading spaces for vans was also highlighted, as many shops receive daily deliveries.

However, this very function brings the High Street to a halt most days.

Motorists regularly stop at a dangerous junction outside Celebration Cakes to buy sandwiches and bacon rolls on their way to work, making it difficult for others to access and exit Knowle Lane.

 About £4 million of funding comes from new developments and its capital budget to improve road safety on the High Street and enhance the green spaces.

The work would be split into phases. Phase one will consist of part-time pedestrianisation of Fountain Square from Friday to Sunday. The works to Fountain Square include creating a “safe space” for people to sit and socialise and additional planting areas for new trees, shrubs, and flowering plants.

A second phase would examine the design of improvement works along the high street, which SCC would develop with the new stakeholder group. Additional phases could include pavement refurbishment, drainage improvements to the High Street, and other complementary works.