Special Projects

The Projects and Conservation Team in Guildford Borough Council's Environmental Planning Group tackle projects relating to the public realm including the Council's environmental improvement programme and all community based initiatives.

For further information of any of the projects, or with any comments, please write to:

Projects & Conservation Team.

BUS SHELTERS, SEATS, NOTICE BOARDS

Guildford Borough Council generally organise the installation, repair and maintenance of bus shelters, seats and notice boards throughout the borough.

Guildford Borough Council work closely with the twenty four parish councils, and generally order and arrange new installations on their behalf. The maintenance of all shelters, seats and notice boards in the parishes is the responsibility of the relevant parish council but Guildford Borough Council arrange repairs and maintenance work on their behalf.

For more information tel : 01483 444516 or click here to e-mail

SITA Surrey Partnership Grant scheme

For details on the SITA Surrey Partnership, future bidding rounds and information about the type of projects which may qualify for funding please contact: Paul Sison, 25 Munster Green, Barcombe, Nr Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 5BN on 01454 232914 or alternatively you can email [email protected]

Click here to view details of a Partnership Project 'Rail to Ramble'.

The Environmental Improvement Programme
Having started in the town centre, this scheme has been running for 15 years with the aim of achieving visual enhancement to selected areas. It now covers the whole of the Borough with schemes ranging from conservation initiatives in areas of high environmental quality to improving local shopping parades in the more deprived areas. The Environmental Improvement Programme remains one of the most effective instruments in achieving area based co-ordinated, high quality change.

• Stoke Fields
  
  A new lighting scheme has been introduced to improve safety along the footway leading from Stoke Fields to Artillery Terrace, known locally as Seven Corners. This area was highlighted in a residents fear of crime survey undertaken as part of the Guildford Community Safety Strategy. Resident stated that they were scared to walk along the path because of the lack of lighting and blind corners.
  
  Six new lighting columns have been installed and 2 existing columns refurbished to echo the conservation style columns that were installed as part of the original Stoke Fields environmental improvement scheme completed in May 2001.
  
  
  
  The lighting scheme has been welcomed by local residents and users of the footpath as the area was previously dark and unsafe during the evenings, often attracting anti-social behaviour.
  
  The next phase of works due to start in the New Year will include resurfacing the Seven Corners pathway. The pathway falls within the Stoke Fields Conservation area and works have been designed to reflect the unique character of this area within Guildford town centre.
  
  Guildford Borough Council have funded the works with a contribution from Surrey County Council. For further information on the scheme please contact Karen Probert, Environmental Planning Group, 01483 444674 or email [email protected]
  
  
• Milkhouse Gate Environmental Improvements.
  A scheme to improve Milkhouse Gate Square, adjacent to the Castle Car Park has recently been completed. The aim is to enhance the day and night-time environment within the space formed by the new car park. The works, designed by Guildford Borough Council accentuate the existing London Plane trees with two ground level planters and uplighters. They replace existing tree grilles which the trees had started to outgrow. The works within the Town Centre Conservation Area, bring up to date an earlier environmental improvement scheme.
  
  
• Millmead Lock
  Following on from last year's work by the National Trust, further improvements have taken place at Millmead Lock. The Council has developed a planting scheme in partnership with the Surrey Gardens Trust and the National Trust featuring ornamental waterside herbaceous plants and grasses.
  
  
  

  Town Wharf

  
  A scheme to improve the Town Wharf is to begin in January 2002. The works, designed by Guildford Borough Council will enhance the day and night-time environment of the space through new paving, seats and lights and trees in planters. The focal point of the scheme will be a new sculpture 'The Bargeman' forged by local artist blacksmiths 'Utopia Forge'. During the works, an exhibition on the history of the space and the work behind the improvements will be held in the foyer of the Electric Theatre.

• Pig Alley, Stoughton Environmental Improvement Update
  
  This environmental improvement scheme arose from public concerns highlighted in the Fear of Crime surveys 1998 and 2001. Pig Alley is a popular pedestrian and cycle route and there have been a number of recent assaults. Phase 1 has been jointly funded by the SITA SW Surrey Partnership, Guildford Borough and Surrey County Council to improve lighting and to cut back overhanging vegetation. A second phase of works will see further improvements to the surfacing of the footpath, which will be funded by planning gain monies from the nearby Queen Elizabeth Park development. Works are expected to be completed by the end of 2002.
  

Haydon Place/Martyr Road Action Group

Guildford Borough Council has set up HMAG (Haydon Place / Martyr Road Action Group) with the Police, Surrey County Council, local Members and local residents to consider issues concerning the local community in the Haydon Place and Martyr Road area. Issues that have been identified include rough sleepers, litter, traffic speeding, noise, cruising cars, poor street lighting and potential areas for enhancement.

A successful community meeting held in May 2002 kick started the initiative and an Action Plan has been prepared outlining all current concerns. The plan outlines areas of concern, key agencies involved, funding opportunities and proposed solutions.

To date a number of positive actions have been progressed which include:

• Working with British Telecom to secure the area around the British Telecom premises to deter rough sleepers
• CCTV camera has been installed
• Traffic surveys undertaken to assess traffic speeds
• Street lighting scheme drawn up by Surrey County Council
• Lighting installed locally by Guildford Borough Council as part of Community Safety and Lighting Strategies
• Planning Briefs prepared for development sites (Bellerby Theatre and North Place Day centre)

The Action Group now has a number of local residents represented who will be taking the Action Plan forward with assistance from Borough Officers.

Also, as part of this community initiative; Gail Johnson from a local company SERCO, based at The Bars, has kindly offered use of a room for the groups future meetings. For further information please telephone 01483 444674

NORTH STREET ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

Guildford Borough Council is currently considering an ambitious programme of environmental improvements in North Street. A number of problems have been identified with the street at the moment. Large numbers of vehicles use the street, there are high levels of pollution and a higher than average number of accidents to cyclists and pedestrians. There is little space within the street which is devoted solely to pedestrians, and little or no trees or landscaping. The paved surfaces, the street furniture (ie seats, litter bins etc) and the market could all do with improvement. It is intended to create a much more pleasant environment for people who shop and work in North Street and to make it a place people will want to linger in and enjoy.

The proposals include:

The first phase of the development of a pedestrian-friendly North Street is starting with the creation of a larger public space outside Guildford Library. New street 'furniture' will be developed to fit in with the new look, and existing facilities (cycle parking, bus stop etc.) will be enhanced by trees.

Contact Kay Munt for further details (01483) 444668.

Rotunda

The enhancements to the pedestrian environment around the seating area at the bottom of North Street known as the 'rotunda' has won an award under the Guildford's Heritage Award Scheme for its improvement to public safety.

Safer Guildford Partnership

In 1999 the Safer Guildford Partnership launched its first Community Safety Strategy, setting out targets and policies designed to make the borough safer and healthier, and also to help people actually feel safer.

Now the Safer Guildford Partnership, which comprises Guildford Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Surrey Police, the new Primary Health Care Trust and the Probation Service, with extra input from parish councils, NHS trusts and schools, has published its strategy for 2002-2005.

The Safer Guildford Partnership has consulted residents, council tenants, community organisations and businesses to ensure that the projects chosen for the strategy reflect the key concerns of people who live and work in the borough.

The key areas of concern were

• Burgulary
• Safety in Public Places
• Street Drinking
• Drug Abuse
• Vehicle Crime
• Young People as Offenders and Victims
• Truancy
• Safer Places for Young People
• Speeding Traffic
• Public Transport
• The Environment
• Community Spirit
• Domestic Violence
• Hate Crime and Repeat Victimisation

Each of these areas is dealt with by the strategy.

For further information please contact Marie Treddenick Community Safety Co-ordinator on (01483) 444510.

If you would like to know more about the Safer Guildford Partnership please contact:

Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, GU2 4BB
Tel:01483 444510

Surrey County Council, Grosvenor House, london Square, Cross Lanes, guildgford, GU1 1FA
Tel: 020 8541 8800

Surrey Police, Guildford Division, Guildford Police Station, Margaret Road, Guildford, GU1 4QS
Tel: 01483 531111

West Surrey Health Authority, The Jarvis Centre, 60 Stoughton Road, Guildford, GU1 1LJ
Tel: 01483 532828

The National Probation Service, Bridge House, The Wharf, Godalming, GU7 1JB
Tel: 01483 860191

Help Beat Burglary

More than 1,500 residents in the borough have already benefited from the FREE property marking service offered by the police through the Safer Guildford Partnership. The initiative aims to mark household property (including TV's and videos) in 18,000 homes in the borough over three years.

Householders wishing to have their property marked and community groups interested in having a talk about property marking or general safety and security advice should contact crime prevention officer PC Graeme Ingate on 01583 531111 ext. 3154.

Lighting Scheme Enhances Ash Vale Station

An exciting and innovative lighting scheme has been introduced to Ash Vale Station. The new scheme, designed by Urban Projects Ltd and the boroughs Projects and Public Realm Team, has transformed the station forecourt during hour of darkness, creating a safer, more inviting environment for users of the station and local residents.

Karen Probert, the Council's projects planner says, "the aim of the work is to use subtle, coloured lighting to bring about immediate visual improvement to the area around the station, transforming it into a safe and interesting area, while bringing a unique and prestigious project to the Ash Vale area".

The lighting scheme is funded by the environmental improvement programme with match funding from Railtrack.

'Wipe out Graffiti in Guildford'

The 'Wipe out Graffiti in Guildford' campaign aims to clamp down on graffiti offenders and clear up graffiti more rapidly.

The public has already helped by reporting around 300 incidents of graffiti to the Council. All these reports were dealt with and the vast majority were resolved within two days. Parish Councils have also helped by reporting any issues in their areas.

Removing graffiti quickly provides a deterrent and is resulting in a reduction in graffiti in the pilot areas targeted by the Council.

The campaign was also rewarded recently with a Guildford Heritage Award in the Designing Out Crime category.

Ring and report graffiti

There are special phone numbers for the public to report incidents of graffiti

• If you see graffiti being daubed phone the police without delay on 01483 531111 (do not attempt to interfere yourself). If you have information about those carrying out graffiti please also ring the above number or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
• To report graffiti which has appeared for cleaning purposes or information on cleaning, please call the Council's hotline on 01483 444499.

For more information on the Safer Guildford Partnership telephone 01483 444510 or click here to e-mail.

River Wey Project

The River Wey runs through the borough of Guildford for about 10 miles. The navigation has been open since the 17th century, although it closed to commercial traffic in the sixties. Once a busy route to London, carrying cargo such as corn and chalk, it is important that we help preserve and embellish this historic waterway for future generations.

Projects along the town stretch of the river are primarily aimed at improvements for pedestrians including seating, enhanced lighting, interpretative panels, landscaping and planting. Improvements will be focused initially between the Rowing Club at Millmead and Dapdune Wharf, off William Road.

A River Walk is currently being researched which will take on improvements to access, siting and styles of interpretation panels and links with the surrounding areas.

The Projects and Public Realm team co-ordinate the River Wey Projects Group, which meets regularly to monitor improvements along the River Wey.

For further information about projects along the town stretch of the River Wey please e-mail River Wey.

For further information on any of the projects, or with any comments, please write to:

Projects & Conservation Team
Environmental Planning Group
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford GU2 4BB,
telephone 01483 444664
or click here to e-mail

Page updated June 25, 2003

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