Let me say to start with, I was wrong. I thought that the pavement build-out at the junction of Guildford Road and All Saints Road in Lightwater was a useful way of slowing traffic through the centre of Lightwater. Others thought the constriction of the traffic flow was ineffective.
The erection of new houses opposite the pavement build-out necessitated a change to the road layout, with the replacement of the build-out with a road table. Still with the purpose of slowing traffic entering the centre of Lightwater. At the time I was unsure about the value of the change. Now, I think the new design is an improvement.
The changes give a cleaner and smoother vista when entering the centre of Lightwater. Windlesham Parish Council will, so I’m informed, maintain the verge on the new pavement, introducing plants and not solely grass. There are new solid bollards to stop parking on the pavement, and the pavement outside the new properties has been widened, which is a huge improvement.
There’s also a new pedestrian crossing near the Post Office. Something that’s been promised for many years. While all these changes are not yet complete, they improve the all round look and feel of the centre of Lightwater.
Here’s a selection of photos of before and after the changes.
I agree it is better
Now they just need to sort out the illegal parking outside the coffee shop/Budgen store, opposite the bus stop. The double yellow lines are mostly ignored and never enforced (that I’ve even seen or heard about?) so there’s often a restriction and associated congestion. Perhaps a rail or bollards right on the kerb edge would deter some of these lazy parker’s if the police and parking officers can’t be bothered to?
By: Mark on August 16, 2012
at 4:11 pm
The lazy parkers on the yellow lines restrict the view for others when trying to re enter Guildford road from Budgeons car park creating a very dangerous exit. There should be a greater police/parking enforcement, but it ts rare to see any enforcement. Who is responsible?
Also coming into the village from Guildford end the road surface up to and around the mini roundabouts is atrocious and has been for many years. Again who is responsible?
Seems unless a fuss is made nothing is done and even then not often!!!
By: Brian B on August 16, 2012
at 5:24 pm
There’ll be even more ‘lazy bastids’ – sorry parkers – now that the new PedXing by the PO has lost us 2 or 3 spaces!.
I always parked up that end and walked into the shopping centre, having once had a narrow squeak exiting Budgens’ access lane to go right onto the Guildford Road – unsighted by the illegal parking (as pointed out by Brian B) – and then virtually forced onto the kerb & bollard dividing the Butchers shop from the BP forecourt …
Yes, the new layout has improved the vista – altho I’d still like to see the Gas Bottle store removed from the frontage of the DIY place (but TESCO will be sorting that ) and the eyesore of the Electricity sub-station spruced up …. pity that the developers of the new dwellings next door couldnt be persuaded?
By: Speedicus Maximus on August 18, 2012
at 7:38 am
Yes it is a safety issue but as it doesn’t involve speeding no one is interested. I guess we’ll just have to wait for serious accident to happen there.
More often than not there’s plenty of parking available but the lazy boys and girls still park on the double yellows! Yes at some times (lunchtimes etc) it’s very busy but it’s primarily convenience (a.k.a laziness) that makes them park there.
As I said, railings or bollards would make it inconvenient for them as they a) wouldn’t be able to get out of their car door and b) would have to walk in the road to the end of the railings.
By: Mark on August 18, 2012
at 10:43 am
I had lunch in Georges last Friday (26th Oct) and to my astonishment a traffic warden turned up! He ticketed several cars including a gardeners van parked on the double yellows outside Georges/Budgen then vanished. He can’t have been there for more than 15 mins and sadly didn’t “lurk” long enough to dissuade many as within minutes the lazy boys and girls all filled the double yellow stretch again
Can whoever dispatched the warden do so for more than a few minutes next time so that more lazy boys/girls either get punished or see first hand that they might be.
By: Mark on October 29, 2012
at 9:47 am