COUNCILLORS have recommended colleagues urgently consider putting up a crash barrier the length of the A31 Farnham bypass - but they have stopped short of agreeing to pay for the barriers from their own council funds.
At a meeting last week, members of Surrey County Council's local committee in Waverley agreed that the decision-making executive body of the county council include the dual carriageway, between the Shepherd and Flock and Coxbridge roundabouts, as part of a future crash barrier programme "as a matter of urgency". The measure would cost £400,000.
But there is currently no money for new crash barriers along 52 kilometres of unprotected dual carriageways.
During a public question time at the meeting, Farnham resident Jez Hyman suggested that five members of the committee could each use £2,000 of their individual £17,850 council funds to raise £10,000 for a 100-metre stretch of barrier between the Shepherd and Flock to the BP garage.
This was the scene of a fatal accident involving a lorry in October 2001, after which a judge said the accident would probably have been less serious if there had been a crash barrier.
But councillors instead agreed a prearranged recommendation for the executive of the county council to look into the matter. Councillors also agreed an amendment from the borough councillor for Farnham Castle, Duncan Steel, that road officers consider lowering the speed limit to 50 mph.
The Herald asked two of the Farnham ward county councillors what they thought of Mr Hyman's suggestion.
Conservative councillor for Farnham South David Munro said: "I don't think that's appropriate. We take risks every day. Where do you draw the line? Should I give £2,000 to Farnham fire station? We've shown we're looking at this very seriously."
Liberal Democrat Marie King Hele, whose Farnham Central ward includes the bypass, said: "I would prefer it if it could be done by the county, and if county councillors put enough pressure on the county I think it will be."