A BITTER dispute over a row of unsightly bollards outside Farnham library took a fresh turn this week, after Surrey County Council refused to pay the £15,000 estimated for their replacement.

Farnham Town Council has long claimed that the 11 bollards, installed outside the library in West Street in 2013, fall short of the standards set out in the Farnham Conservation Area Management Plan (FCAMP).

But although Surrey’s library service delivery manager Liz Hart has, according to councillors, “agreed there is a case for replacing the bollards” - responding to the Herald a county council spokesman denied Surrey has agreed to pay for its error.

The Surrey spokesman said: “These stronger bollards were put in place four years ago to keep people safe - they do the job and we have no reason to replace them.

“Our view is it’s not appropriate for £15,000 of public money to be spent on this, particularly at a time when we’re facing significant financial pressures.”

It comes after Farnham Town Council leader Carole Cockburn left little doubt as to who she thought should pay to replace the bollards at last month’s full council meeting, commenting: “It’s [Surrey’s] desecration, they did it, so they put it right and they pay.”