FARNHAM Town Council has thanked Carole Cockburn “on behalf of the whole town and wider community” for her instrumental role in seeing the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan through to adoption.

The plan, which sets out a community-led blueprint for development in the town up to 2031, was finally ‘made’ by Waverley Borough Council last month - just days after a High Court judge dismissed a developers’ legal challenge against the document, ruling in favour of the 10,000-plus people who backed the plan in May’s referendum.

Finally able to celebrate the Neighbourhood Plan’s adoption, the Deputy Mayor of Farnham, David Attfield, presented a bouquet of flowers to its chief architect, Bourne councillor Mrs Cockburn, at a meeting of the town council.

Mr Attfield, member for Weybourne and Badshot Lea, said: “This has truly been a momentous community effort and the support of the community has been significant in reaching a successful outcome.

“However, such a project that has taken some six years from start to finish has needed consistent leadership, tenacity and a dogged determination to overcome numerous obstacles that have arisen along the way.

“As such it is right that we recognise the significant role played by councillor Carole Cockburn, both as the lead member of the infrastructure planning group and as leader of the council.”

Mrs Cockburn said in reply: “It’s not the first time I’ve been shocked throughout this process!

“Thank you very much, I’m not sure I do deserve that, it has been a terrific team effort and yes we’ve had ups and downs, but I think what’s come out of it are the friendships that are still maintained at the end of it.

“Waiting for the result of the judicial review was a very difficult few weeks to say the least. But it’s there, it’s done, it’s working for us, well done Farnham and thank you to all the councillors that have contributed as well. It’s been a joint effort.”