The continuing saga of Walton bridge

CPRE Surrey gave evidence at a lengthy Public Inquiry into the proposed replacement bridge at Walton on Thames in 2005/6. A new planning application was submitted in October 2007 and this was approved by the Surrey County Council Planning Dept in January.

 

CPRE Surrey gave evidence at a lengthy Public Inquiry into the proposed replacement bridge at Walton on Thames in 2005/6. The Inspector largely supported our concerns and refused to confirm the proposed road layout, the Compulsory Purchase Order, and ‘exchange lands’ (which would have replaced the public open space lost as a result of the scheme).

 

A new planning application was submitted in October 2007 and this was approved by the Surrey County Council Planning Dept in January. This decision is subject to referral to the Secretary of State as it is a departure from the development plan because of its Green Belt location.

 

We feel that our original objections have been vindicated, despite resulting in a slight delay in construction. We now have a far better layout – the bridge is less obtrusive, the layout of the side roads has improved, there is a larger area of open space on the Cowey Sale river bank and pedestrian and cycle facilities are better.

 

It could have been better still – but life is never perfect! The position and design of the café could be improved, the layout of the car park could be less obtrusive and safer, the marina access could have been further from the river, and there is the potential for improving the footpath and cycle arrangements. Nevertheless, the Council has largely taken account of the Inspector’s and our concerns, and we anticipate that the end result will be a marked improvement on the existing arrangements.

 

We now hope that it will not be necessary to hold another Public Inquiry into the required land exchange and side road order, so that construction can start as soon as possible.