A PROPOSED three and a half month closure of one of the two key entrances to the Folly Hill estate has been kicked back pending further consultation.

Works to construct a new roundabout serving Cala Homes’ ‘Folly Heights’ development, temporarily closing the western section of Drovers Way, were set to commence on February 17.

However, after a meeting with residents orchestrated by Councillor Stephen Spence, county highways officials have agreed to revisit the plans.

According to Mike Downs, deputy chair of the Park View Residents Association, four-way temporary traffic lights are now being considered as an alternative, with a revised date for the works yet to be set.

However, as a consequence, it will extend the duration of the works to 18 weeks rather than the original 15 weeks planned.

Speaking to the Herald, Mr Downs said there has been "much activity" since the Herald last reported on the proposed closure in late January - starting with a site meeting with highways officials arranged by Farnham North councillor Stephen Spence on February 3.

"It was a positive meeting and we were able to put our concerns across as real issues which should have been considered before the decision was taken to shut Drovers Way, he said.

"The Surrey County Council representatives arrived early for the meeting and were able to observe the volume of traffic entering and exiting Drovers Way at its junction with Folly Hill.

"They were considerably higher than they had expected and it made our figures look plausible."

Mr Downs said the council officers also acknowledged that residents should have been involved at the planning stage.

He continued: "CALA Homes are funding the roundabout, and they and their construction team had agreed the closure with Surrey as it suited the developer and without assessing the impact on the local community."

"Serious errors" were also made in the design specification for the new roundabout, Mr Downs said, including wrongly positioned bus stops and roads, and "Dukes Walk being overlooked altogether".

"In summing up," he added, "Surrey acknowledged all the concerns tabled and agreed to take them away and have further discussions with the developer and other officers at the county council to consider what could be done to improve the situation and correct the errors.

"The commencement of the construction work has therefore been deferred, and Surrey has agreed to not close Drovers Way and revert back to multi-way signals instead (four-way).

"As a result of this decision it will extend the duration of the works to 18 weeks rather than the original 15 weeks.

"We understand that a revised option has been proposed but is still under consultation.

"We are hopeful that an acceptable compromise will be reached but until it is confirmed one can never be sure."

CALA Homes declined to send a representative to the site visit, Mr Downs said.