£1 million investment to improve Guildford Nature Reserve
Plans include improving access for firefighting equipment to lessen wildfire risks
Officials in Guildford have unveiled plans for a substantial investment to enhance fire safety measures, in the wake of wildfires that affected the area in 2022.
Accessible fire equipment is part the £1.13m investment plans to improve Guildford’s Riverside Nature Reserve and Parsonage Water Meadows. The site experienced wildfires for the first time in 2022 which affected the traffic on the A3.
Plans include improving access for firefighting equipment to lessen wildfire risks. Officers said they are working with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, and the team is in the process of developing a plan.
Riverside Nature Reserve is a designated alternative green space (SANG) resulting from a new housing development. They take the pressure off wildlife protection areas (e.g. Thames Basin Heaths) and allow the public to enjoy green spaces.
The existing boardwalk needs ‘urgently’ replacing as parts of it have ‘deteriorated beyond repair’ and are currently closed for health and safety reasons. Officers have proposed recycled plastic to improve the lifespan of the boardwalk.
Approximately £400,000 will be spent on site clearance and boardwalk construction in Riverside Nature Reserve, taking place between the summer months of July-August 2025.
Around £1,133,500 is estimated to be spent on the three-year project, with funding coming from financial contributions from developers which are collected to deliver new green spaces.
Works include improvement of paths, better signage informing visitors of accessible routes and distance to the town centre, strategic placing of seating and rest areas, as well as internet promotion of the site.
Guildford Borough Councillors heard at an executive meeting held June 12 that officers are eager to increase accessibility for visitors both in terms of physical ability and cracking down on anti-social behaviour. Tackling antisocial behaviour was another priority as officers acknowledged visitors feeling unsafe is often overlooked as a measure of accessibility
Public consultation later this year was agreed as part of the proposal to gain support for the local nature reserve. Residents will be asked to share their views on the replacement of the boardwalk, access arrangements, path surfacing and the character of the site.