Sir, – Having been one of the small informal group who

proposed to Waverley back in the autumn of 1995 the crying need for a strategic plan for the development of the then very run down condition of the area of East Street, now defined in both the planning and

development briefs which are available for scrutiny in the locality office in South Street, it is essential that those who will be making comment on the plans yet to be submitted by the eight short-listed

developers should make

themselves well informed of both these briefs.

As so often happens, many voice strong opinions on important issues affecting our town without making themselves fully aware of the facts involved. And this seems to be the situation now when Farnham has the unique

opportunity to create an area of character and charm which will complement the remainder of the town centre.

Even though this multimillion pound development is perhaps the most important that will ever happen in Farnham, and even Waverley, there have been very disappointingly few who have made the effort to scrutinise both the planning and development briefs so far.

Waverley is committed to involving the public in

comment upon the plan

submitted by the eight short-listed developers but to achieve this very essential aim, and to try and avoid as much ill-informed comment as

possible,Waverley must make every effort to ensure that background information is

reasonably readily available for scrutiny other than in the

locality office in South Street. Could Waverley make copies available for purchase?

The development brief makes comment upon

relevance of the excellent

document "Surrey Design A Strategic Guide for Quality Built Environment" published by Surrey Local Government Association, which is available from SCC for £12.50. Here again may I suggest that two or three copies are made available in the locality office, or for those interested to obtain a copy?

Local communities have a legitimate interest in new development and can provide a wealth of local knowledge and insight that can help inform the design process but, although this is true, comment must be made based on a clear understanding of both the detail of the proposed development and the background, and trying to temper what is wanted with the reality of what is possible, and unthought-through and ill-informed comment will hopefully be at a minimum.

In a previous article in your columns I have stressed the fact that in this development the aspirations of every interest group cannot possibly be met. There must be readiness for intelligent compromise and if not the whole project may fall apart which would be a tragedy for Farnham. But then perhaps there are those who would

prefer to see parts of our town to remain as a run-down slum.

What unfortunately seems to be happening is that party

politics is sullying the present debate. It is indeed a very exciting time for Farnham, a time when this wonderful opportunity exists, perhaps never to be repeated, which must not be lost. That there will be differences of opinion goes without saying but let's hope what will finally emerge will be an area of our town for which we all can be proud and will make Farnham one of the most interesting in the country.

Bryan Sell

The Hart, Farnham