Weybridge Town Centre Works Cancelled as Businesses React
What Was Planned for Church Street and the High Street
If you have walked along Church Street or the High Street recently, you will have seen the town looking much as it always has. Surrey County Council had lined up a scheme for January that would have widened pavements along parts of both streets, added a new pedestrian crossing, resurfaced the road and introduced fresh street seating and lighting. Those plans have now been scrapped, which means the town centre will keep its current layout for the foreseeable future.
The project was first pencilled in for 2023 but was pushed back so it would not clash with work at the Wisley Interchange, where the A3 meets the M25. That was a sensible decision, and it is a reminder that large schemes rarely arrive quickly. For those of us who shop, commute or walk children to school here, the real question was always whether the upgrades would deliver lasting value.
The council says the plan was developed over several years in close consultation with councillors and businesses. It was ultimately dropped because local stakeholders withdrew their support. That detail matters, because it shows how much community voices shape the outcome of public projects. Whatever your view of the scheme, the story here is as much about consultation as it is about tarmac and paving slabs.
How Local Businesses Are Responding
Opinions along the high street are divided. Chris Hitchcock, of Clive Christian Interiors, welcomed the decision. His clients often park in the lay-bys while they discuss a kitchen renovation or view finished samples, and he believes fewer roadworks will mean less congestion and an easier visit for everyone.
Chris Bachmann, who runs Bachmanns patisserie, takes the opposite view. He had been looking forward to the wider pavements, which would have given him more room outside his shopfront for tables and customers. He wants traffic to keep moving through and away from the town, but he struggles to see why the improvements were abandoned.
David Kalski, manager of Megan’s by the Wey, said he was very glad of the decision, noting that several colleagues, himself included, would have been heavily affected by the disruption. Discover Weybridge, the town’s business improvement district, was disappointed the project was cancelled in full, particularly because it had hoped to see the Baker Street junction improved. Even so, the organisation said it was overall pleased, warning that the works would have caused significant disruption for limited benefit.
Meanwhile, Dave Arnold, chair of the Weybridge Society, said the group could not support the scheme as a whole but hopes elements can still go ahead when the time is right.
What Residents Should Know and What Happens Next
For most of us, the immediate impact is simple: no road closures in January and no new layout to get used to. But the cancellation also raises practical questions for anyone planning work on their home. Tradespeople, including bathroom fitters and firms offering bathroom refurbishment, depend on kerbside space for vans, materials and skips. Homeowners planning a kitchen renovation often need the same. Lay-bys and loading spaces are not a luxury in a busy town; they are how the work gets done.
If you want a say in what comes next, there are clear steps you can take. Keep an eye on Surrey County Council’s website for updates on any revised proposals, and consider responding to future consultations. Local groups such as the Weybridge Society and Discover Weybridge are good places to share views and find out what is being discussed behind the scenes. Attending council meetings, or contacting your local councillors, is also worth doing if the Baker Street junction or the pavements on your regular route concern you.
Watch for a few things over the coming months. The first is whether the council brings forward a smaller, phased version of the scheme, as the Weybridge Society has hinted. The second is how the Wisley Interchange works progress, since that will affect traffic through the wider area, including drivers heading in from Woking. Finally, keep an eye on BBC Surrey and BBC Radio Surrey for coverage. If you have a story about how these changes affect your business or street, send it in. Local journalism works best when residents tell us what matters on the ground.
Source: Weybridge businesses respond as council cancels town centre works
