Unauthorised encampments and developments are an increasing concern in Guildford and across our villages. In recent months, there have been several incidents locally, including incursions onto Stoke Park, and most notably the development in Ockham, which has caused significant distress to residents.

Unfortunately, this is not an issue confined to Guildford alone. Across Surrey, unauthorised encampments are becoming more frequent, with recent incidents occurring in towns and villages across the county including Bramley, Pirbright and Woking.  

This week, I was pleased to meet with Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, alongside a cross-party group of local MPs, to raise these concerns and press for stronger action. Given the scale of the issue, it’s important for MPs to put party differences to one side in order to find a resolution.
The meeting was extremely productive and there was a clear, cross-party commitment to tackling the issue – including from the Minister himself. I will provide a further update once Minister Pennycook has followed up in writing. 
 

I have been pushing Thames Water for answers about the large and visually obtrusive yellow gantry crane erected at Pewley Reservoir in West Guildford that is understandably causing distress to residents who have rightly demanded answers. 

I have now received a response from Thames Water’s Spokesperson: 

“The overhead crane gantry at Pewley Reservoir is part of a broader project, as we invest more than £90 million to secure Guildford’s water supply for generations to come. 

“East Guildford is supported only by Netley Mill Water Treatment Works, and so we have been building the £46m West to East Transfer Pipeline to connect it to Pewley Reservoir in West Guildford. The 8.3km of new pipe will allow us to move up to the equivalent of almost six Olympic swimming pools each day between areas, providing a more reliable water supply for our customers. 

“The gantry is an essential part of the operations at Pewley, but following local feedback we are reviewing the design to try to reduce its visual impact.”  

As background information, the spokesperson added that the gantry falls under Thames Water’s ‘Permitted Development rights as a statutory water undertaker and hence as part of this project did not require a planning application as it benefits from deemed planning permission.’ 

I appreciate that this response will not be what affected residents want to hear, and it suggests the gantry is likely to remain in place for the medium to long term.  

I share residents’ frustration about the gantry’s visual impact. Since my intervention, Thames Water have taken on board residents' concerns about the visual impact of the gantry and have committed to taking measures to reduce it. 

Please be assured that I am working to ensure this design review is completed without unnecessary delay, and for measures that minimise the visual impact to be implemented as quickly as possible. 

I am also pushing Thames Water on why they did not write to residents to advise of the works which seems inconsistent with their normal practice. They have now accepted this was an oversight on their part. 

I will be continuing to monitor this and remain in touch with Thames Water as this progresses.

Transport remains a major challenge for residents and businesses across Guildford and its villages, with poor road and rail infrastructure restricting mobility and economic growth. Although Guildford is a thriving hub – home to the University of Surrey, the Research Park and the Royal Surrey County Hospital – this success places heavy pressure on local transport networks. Severe congestion, high car dependency and inadequate public transport capacity risk holding the area back.

National studies, including Network Rail’s Wessex Corridor assessment, recognise the Reading to Gatwick via Guildford route as a high-demand corridor with limited capacity and significant untapped potential. Without targeted investment, congestion and car use will continue to rise.

In Parliament, I raised these issues during a South East transport debate secured by Jess Brown-Fuller MP. I again pressed the Government on the long-delayed Guildford West Station, which would serve key employment and education sites and help reduce congestion while supporting sustainable travel. Stakeholder meetings have reinforced the station’s value, but funding remains the main obstacle, with national investment streams increasingly restrictive.

A holistic approach is needed to shift away from car dependency – reliable buses, integrated ticketing, safe cycling routes, secure bike storage and accessible transport for all. Guildford’s growth potential is clear, but Government support is essential to deliver the infrastructure our communities need.

I also challenged the Government on three points:  

• How growth corridor areas like Guildford will be supported 
• Why is there no link between mandated housing growth and transport funding 
• How areas like Surrey can unlock growth without clear long-term governance or investment plans.  

I will continue fighting for the transport network our constituency deserves.

Watch my Speech

Residents across Guildford and our villages often tell me they want to choose greener travel options, but reliability and accessibility issues make that difficult.

Throughout January, one of my key focus’ is working to deliver better rail services for Guildford and our villages. Guildford station is second only to Woking for the worst punctuality of trains on the entire South Western Railway (SWR) network. Just 74.2 per cent of working trains arrive “on time,” which is actually classified as arriving within three minutes of their scheduled times.

This clearly isn’t good enough but will sadly come as no surprise to many of you who, like me, have to regularly commute by train. I’m well aware of the endless delays and cancellations. Numerous regular train users have shared with me their frustrations at having gone weeks without being able to get a train that was on time and/or has the correct number of carriages.  That’s why I wrote to the Chief Exec of SWR to raise the issue and am waiting for a response which I will share once received. 

I am also hosting a meeting this month with the key stakeholders for any project to build a new station on Surrey Research Park. We’ve been waiting over 10 years as a community for a decision on this project that could make a big difference to green travel and congestion – I’m working to get an answer one way or another. 

Couple this with the appalling communication when there is an issue and rail use has become untenable for many. Train users must be able to access up-to-date, timely information, including advance notice of delays, service alterations and reductions in train length, etc. so that they can make informed decisions about how and when to travel.

I raised this with SWR’s Managing Director, Lawrence Bowman, at the most recent meeting of the SWR All Party Parliamentary Group and have now followed this up in writing, setting out my concerns and demanding answers.

I’m also pushing SWR to improve WIFI connectivity on the Guildford to London route. The poor service on this busy route is immensely frustrating for commuters. Improvements will make the railways a more attractive travel option for many, who, like me, begin their working day on the way to the office. 

With recent improvements in technology, I believe that this issue could be addressed with relative ease – and I will keep you updated on my efforts to ensure this happens.

There are so many Guildford constituents who want to travel by rail, but don’t feel confident enough in the service to do so. Train travel has the potential of empowering people to make greener travel choices if we can ensure more reliable, cost effective and accessible services.

That is why I have launched my annual train survey. I want to hear from you: the good, the bad, and the ugly of your train experiences. Your feedback will help me push for the changes needed to make rail travel easier and more reliable for everyone.  

Complete my survey by clicking here.

• LATEST INFLATION FIGURES TO MEAN INCREASE OF 5.8% IN 2026-27 TRAIN FARES
• GUILDFORD COMMUTERS TO SEE SEASON TICKET INCREASE TO £5,000

Under the current system, Government policy is to increase regulated train fares in line with July’s retail price index (RPI).

Latest inflation figures would put next year’s increase at 5.8%

• The annual cost of a season ticket from Guildford to London stations is £4,724
• An increase of 5.8% would take it to £4,998
• Costing commuters an extra £274

Zöe Franklin, MP for Guildford constituency said: “The government must re-think the policy of using July’s RPI to calculate the annual increase in regulated rail fares.

“Residents of Guildford and our villages already pay far too much for a service that is unreliable and frequently overcrowded, something I raised just last week when I met the Managing Director of newly renationalised SWR.

“The Liberal Democrats have argued for years that rail fares should be frozen - we should not be paying more for a service where we face delays, cancellations and being packed on to overcrowded trains.

New figures released today (20 August) indicate that regulated rail fares are set to rise 5.8% in 2026-27 should the government choose to follow existing policy and increase fares in line with July’s Retail Price Index (RPI).

 

Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Franklin told MPs that the roadworks due to finish this summer were now not expected to be completed until Spring 2026, meaning four years of disruption to residents and businesses.

Zöe Franklin MP said: “Current legislation doesn’t compensate for loss of business during long running and large-scale infrastructure projects.

“There have been huge consequences for RHS Wisley, the UK’s leading gardening charity. It not only is facing the financial loss of 350,000 fewer visitors a year, but also it has delayed plans for new arboretums, reduced funding for scientific research, scaled back community outreach projects and cut training opportunities for students.

“RHS Wisley’s petition for compensation has 93,000 signatures. I was pleased to add my name, and I encourage constituents to show their support.  

The petition can be found here.

Ms Franklin continued: “The owner of the very popular local café Ockham Bites has spoken of the financial and emotional impact the project is having on him and his business. He estimates road closures and traffic disruption is costing him £600 every day in lost trade.

“On two different scales, these two examples highlight a major flaw in the current legislation. Local charities and businesses need and deserve support for financial losses caused through no fault of their own, but by major infrastructure projects.

“I met the Transport Minister to discuss this and was frustrated by her unwillingness to find a solution to the financial hole the M25 works have caused Wisley and Ockham Bites.”

Zöe Franklin MP has tabled an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill calling for financial compensation to charities and small businesses affected by road closures and roadworks lasting six months or more. 

The amendment would require the Government to provide financial support or equivalent assistance to small businesses and charities that suffer significant disruption or financial loss due to roadworks or closures lasting six months or more. Where road or building works cause extended disruption, the Secretary of State would be required to ensure that affected organisations can access compensation or support to help them recover or mitigate the detriment suffered.