Farnham Infrastructure Programme

Water Lane works completed

The completion of the Water Lane works is the latest milestone for the Farnham Infrastructure Programme, which is working through a series of projects to improve travel around the town to help reduce congestion and improve air quality.

Coming up next is the introduction of 20mph speed limits in Upper Hale in October, cycle improvements in Borelli Walk in November and major town centre improvements in January.

The programme is a partnership between Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council and Farnham Town Council.

Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council and Chair of the Farnham Board, said: "There has been a huge amount of work undertaken in Farnham to tackle the town's outdated transport network, and help facilitate more active travel.

"Surrey County Council's investment in Farnham is much wider than its work in the infrastructure programme. We are also supporting the development at Brightwells Yard and the introduction of the Surrey Connect on-demand bus service.

"I firmly believe all this will support a modern town with a vibrant economy for residents, businesses and visitors, which reflects and celebrates the town's history."

Water Lane works

Earlier this year, the programme completed changes to Water Lane. To improve safety and promote walking and cycling, traffic lights with a push button pedestrian and cyclist crossing (known as a toucan crossing) replaced the crossing point with islands near the roundabout. The road was widened to three lanes with clearer road markings to ease queuing traffic and help drivers get into the correct lane.

Early indications are that the road is running well since the improvements went in, and further reviews will take place in due course.

Waverley Borough Council awarded £404,000 to fund the works from the community infrastructure levy (CIL), which is money provided by developers to fund local infrastructure improvements.

The Leader of Waverley Borough Council, Councillor Paul Follows, said:

"It's fantastic to see funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy that we require developers to pay when they complete new homes, being put to such good use in making much-needed improvements to our local infrastructure.

"The completion of the Water Lane works marks a significant step forward in our efforts to create a safer, healthier, and more sustainable town and encourage more active travel within Farnham. These improvements not only make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists but also help reduce congestion and improve air quality - key priorities for our community."

Town centre works

Following extensive consultation on options for the town centre, the detailed design of the scheme has been developed, which is sympathetic to the town's sense of place and its historic environment is preserved and enhanced.

Funding has been agreed from Surrey County Council's capital budget, and CIL money awarded by Waverley Borough Council. Some CIL funding has also been earmarked by Farnham Town Council.

There are going to be multiple demands on the town's road network over the coming months, including utility works and the introduction of the 20mph speed limit in Upper Hale Road in the autumn; as well as the need to avoid disruption in the town centre over the crucial Christmas trading period. For that reason the main town centre works will now not start until January 2025, and will take approximately 18 months to complete.

The works include:

• Pavement widening wherever possible throughout the town centre, to give more space for shoppers, new planting and outdoor dining.
• In Downing Street, the temporary planters and bollards will be replaced with permanent wider pavements for pedestrians and loading bays for businesses.
• Changes to the road layout to avoid cars having to unnecessarily circle around the town, with drivers being able to turn right at the bottom of Castle Street; and two-way traffic at the bottom of Downing Street so drivers can travel both ways between Union Road and Longbridge, and the Waggon Yard car park in Lower Church Lane.
• New street furniture is being installed across the town.
• Roads and pavements are being resurfaced and upgraded.
• Pedestrian controlled crossings will also be installed at Downing Street/West Street and Longbridge/Union Road junctions to make it safer to get around town.

Inevitably there will be some disruption, but the programme will be providing regular updates so people can continue with their lives and support local businesses, while encouraging walking, cycling or use of public transport like the Surrey Connect on-demand bus service to get into town as much as possible.

A town centre works page has been created on the Surrey County Council website, where key information will be added over the coming month. The website also includes the opportunity to subscribe to a new e-newsletter which will give regular updates throughout the period of the works.

Borelli Cycle Improvement Scheme

Sections of the Borelli Walk between South Street, Brightwells Yard and the Riverside car parks will be upgraded for pedestrians and cyclists, supporting people to change how they travel around the town. This means, for example, visitors to the town centre could park in the Riverside car parks and walk into town, which will help reduce traffic.

The first phase of works are expected to begin in November at the Riverside car parks.

These cycle improvements will be on land owned by Farnham Town Council and Waverley Borough Council.

Cllr David Beaman, Farnham Board member from Farnham Town Council, said: "This is a significant project for Farnham which should greatly improve the ambiance of the heart of Farnham. Inevitably, residents and visitors will face some changes from the phased works.

"FTC will work with its partners and is looking forward to a more friendly pedestrian orientated town centre when the scheme is completed. This should meet residents' expectations for a town that encourages greater use of active travel and improved air quality and enhance the experience of visiting Farnham's historic town whilst bringing social, economic and environmental benefits for all."

20mph speed limit in Upper Hale

New 20mph speed limit signs and speed reduction measures will be installed in Upper Hale this autumn. The traffic calming measures are four speed tables (which cover the whole width of the road) along with new informal pedestrian crossings on three of the raised speed tables.

Looking back

The Farnham Infrastructure Programme was formed back in 2019 when the three councils covering the town and the then local MP Jeremy Hunt agreed to work together to tackle congestion and improve air quality.

Since then, there have been three major consultations – on the programme's vision, on the infrastructure plan and the town centre proposals. As a result:

• Heave goods vehicle (HGV) restrictions have been introduced in Castle Street and Upper Hale.
• The main route through the town centre has been declassified to encourage drivers to remain on the A31.
• 20mph zones have been introduced in Farnham town centre and Weydon Lane.
• The Strategic Outline Business Case for improvements on the A31 was approved by central government.
• Wayfinding signage has been installed in the town centre to encourage people to travel on foot.
• A Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for the town has been adopted.
• Wrecclesham Bridge has been made more visible with new brighter painting, additional signage and vegetation removal to discourage HGVs from attempting to pass underneath.
• The speed limit on the A31 from the Coxbridge roundabout to the county boundary has been reduced.

Gregory Stafford, MP for Farnham and Bordon, said: "I've always supported the vision of my predecessor for reduced congestion and improved air quality in Farnham. I'm pleased to see the progress that has been made so far with the Farnham Infrastructure Programme and I am keen to support it through its next stages.

"On the completion of the works in town centre, I hope those living and working in Farnham will see positive changes to how the town operates. I am keen to promote the positive impacts that the new infrastructure will bring and further future improvements, and I look forward to working with all three councils to see a timely completion of the project.