Conservatives have announced plans to suspend on-street parking charges during the Farnham Infrastructure Programme (FIP) works, with Surrey County Council set to bring in the change within weeks.

The decision by Conservative-led Surrey County Council follows calls from Farnham and Bordon MP Gregory Stafford and the Waverley Conservative Group, who said the move would support businesses during the road and infrastructure improvements.

The suspension will begin once arrangements for permit holders are finalised and remain in place until the works are completed in late 2026.

The Conservative Group said the move shows the council is “listening to local people” and “delivering practical support”, while claiming Liberal Democrat–led Waverley Borough Council has “ignored repeated warnings from traders about falling footfall and lost trade”.

According to the group, Waverley has increased parking charges by nearly 30 percent over the past two years, with Farnham now generating around half of the borough’s total parking income.

Local businesses, they said, believe the borough council “treats Farnham as a cash cow” by raising prices even as roadworks and access issues make trading more difficult.

Gregory Stafford, MP for Farnham and Bordon, said: “Business owners feel Waverley simply isn’t listening. Parking costs have gone up while trade has gone down. I raised these concerns directly with Surrey County Council, and it’s acted.”

Cllr Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council, said: “The message from Gregory, Conservative councillors and Farnham’s business community was clear: local traders need more support while infrastructure improvements are delivered. This suspension of on-street parking charges will give the town centre a much-needed boost.”

Local Conservatives have urged Waverley Borough Council to consider similar measures, saying its approach has focused too heavily on income from parking.

Cllr Jane Austin, leader of the Conservative Group on Waverley Borough Council, said: “Surrey County Council has acted to back local traders. Waverley should do the same and stop tinkering with small PR gestures while businesses are crying out for real support. The council’s one-day-a-week offer is tone-deaf when shops are struggling all week."

Waverley Borough Council has said it continues to review parking policy to balance support for businesses with maintaining income for local services.

On-street parking in Farnham is managed by Surrey County Council. Most car parks in the town, including Central, South Street, Waggon Yard and Riverside, are owned and operated by Waverley Borough Council.

Recently, Waverley introduced the ‘Pay One, Stay Two’ initiative, giving visitors a second hour of parking free when they buy a one-hour ticket on Wednesdays.

Waverley Borough Council has been approached for comment.