WAVERLEY Council officers have been instructed to prepare proposals to tidy up the dilapidated East Street area, where a full-scale regeneration could be as far off as five years.

The shameful appearance of the area was highlighted by The Herald at the start of this year. The move towards some action was among recommendations for East Street approved by Waverley's policy and resources committee.

The committee also agreed a number of matters to be taken into account in developing the design brief for the East Street regeneration, following the public consultation exercise in March.

The public, at an "open house" session, was shown a package drawn up by Waverley's consultants, PRP architects, to illustrate what could be achieved on the site.

Reporting the outcome of the consultation, officers said there had been concern, from the Farnham Society for instance, that the proposals represented over-development, out of keeping with the country town character of Farnham.

A more modest or phased approach may be warranted, the officers commented, with parts of the development restricted to three rather than four storeys.

The amount of retail space was a further concern, and the policy committee has agreed that this should be reassessed.

The public, in their response, had favoured the retention of the bowling green and the tennis courts on the site, and expressed concerns about the Gostrey Centre and the CAB, it was reported.

Waverley officers said that the development brief should allow for the retention of the bowling green and that the tennis club was seeking information on alternative sites.

Land at the Riverside, 400 metres from the existing courts, was mentioned as one possibility.

The Gostrey Centre and CAB can both be accommodated within the site proposals, the officers stated, and the council's East Street Task Group is to look into the future accommodation needs of "community users" throughout the Farnham area.