Sir, - In his letter last week, Councillor Munro omitted one very important feature in his short list of envisaged road improvements.
A split-level roundabout at Hickley's Corner, which I assume is a euphemism for an underpass, would be quite pointless until a new Firgrove Bridge was constructed which could accommodate four or six lanes of the A31 beneath it.
I have heard Mr Munro acknowledge this in the past, so assume it was left out to avoid getting too technical in a short letter.
A new bridge, however, might present an opportunity to connect the A287 directly to the A31 bypass, so its importance could be greater than a preliminary to an underpass.
I do not agree that Farnham desperately needs a Hickley Corner underpass. What is urgently needed in this vicinity is a substantial reduction in the volume of traffic that passes over the level crossing.
If a Wrecclesham relief road is at last in sight, this will relieve Station Hill, Tilford Road, Great Austins, and so on, of quite a lot of rat runners from the A325. Let's see how that works before digging up the bypass.
Reducing the speed limit around the Shepherd and Flock gyratory system, to make lane-changing safe (which it is not at present), might avoid the cost and disruption which would result from the installation of traffic lights at each remaining junction.
Perhaps this, and the separate dedicated Guildford lane outside Sainsbury's not yet taken up by the Highways Department, should be investigated before money is allocated specifically to traffic lights.
Eric Boyle
Old Compton Lane