Borough finally agrees to tunnel safety improvements

10.28.28am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 22nd Sep 2007

After a campaign lasting nearly five years, Guildford Borough Council has agreed to fund cameras for the Egerton Road and Southway pedestrian tunnels.

Sue Doughty, who when she was the local MP worked tirelessly with student groups on this issue said "It is disgraceful that it took six very nasty attacks on young people before action was taken. We have warned the council endlessly that these tunnels were not safe and yet they were prepared to fund cameras for other, safer, areas rather than deal with this." The tunnels have regularly been the focus of problems, and students have pointed out that during the dark winter afternoons many students do not turn up for late afternoon lectures due to safety fears.

Sue has congratulated local councillor Chris Ward for an excellent campaign. She said "For years we have been waiting for this, which needed Surrey County, Guildford Borough, the Police and the University to work together. I know that many parents worry about the safety of their children when they go away to University, and it has been frustrating to see Guildford drag it's heels when other organisations, particularly the Police and the University are now working so closely together."

The improvements which will see four cameras in the Egerton Road subway, and three placed within the Southway subway are expected to be in place by the end of this year.