Earlier today, two planning applications were submitted to Woking Borough Council’s planning department that propose temporary and permanent access arrangements for Woking’s aggregate yard in the town centre.

The separate planning applications, propose a temporary access via Bradfield Close and York Road, and a permanent access road via the existing access in Guildford Road.

Although the Council is reviewing the Victoria Arch widening scheme, in readiness for a revised work programme, the Council needs to resolve access to the aggregate yard.

Whilst the yet to be finalised work to Victoria Arch and the nearby area is conducted, the existing goods yard access road must close and a temporary alternative access provided to ensure businesses based within the yard can maintain their commercial activities.

The temporary planning application submitted proposes an access via Bradfield Close, situated on the goods yard southern boundary. Subject to planning consent, the yard’s operational traffic would enter and exit the goods yard from A320 Guildford Road, via York Road and Bradfield Close.

To minimise the impact of operational vehicles on the surrounding residential areas, a vehicle weight restriction is proposed on York Road (after the roundabout with Bradfield Close) and along the entire length of Montgomery Road and Mount Hermon Road – something I proposed and I am delighted will be implemented.

If approved, the temporary access road works and operations would include:

• A two-way ramped vehicular and pedestrian access into the goods yard from the northernmost end of Bradfield Close.
• The widening of the central section of Bradfield Close to allow a one-way traffic management system and HGVs to pass each other on the rest of the route.
• The widening of the highway and road surface improvements at the roundabout junction of York Road and Bradfield Close.
• Improvement to the pedestrian crossing facilities located along the northern side of York Road as the road passes Bradfield Close.
• A proposed 7.5 tonnes HGV ban on Mount Hermon Road and York Road (to the west of Bradfield Close).
• Proposed on-street parking restrictions on York Road (between Bradfield Close and Guildford Road) to allow HGVs to pass each other.

On completion of the Victoria Arch works, the proposed temporary access to the goods yard would close and the existing access road permanently re-opened at its current location in Guildford Road.

Subject to planning consent, works to re-establish the permanent access road would include:

• The widening of the goods yard access road allowing separate entry and exit vehicle movements, the provision of a large central pedestrian refuge island within the access and improved visibility.
• The lowering of the access road along the mid-section to allow a flatter, final approach to Guildford Road.
• New retaining structures on either side of the access road.
• The provision of a terraced maintenance access bay along the southern boundary of the access road, allowing level maintenance/service access to the existing commercial/residential development to the south.