A FORMER Waverley mayor and respected architect has reignited calls for an underpass at the A31 Hickleys Corner junction in response to MP Jeremy Hunt’s latest plans to overhaul Farnham’s road network.

Michael Blower was elected Surrey county councillor for Farnham South in 1983 - the first (and last) Lib Dem to win the division - on the basis of a proposed underpass taking A31 traffic below the junction with Station Hill and South St.

This has long been suggested as a possible solution to Farnham’s traffic woes, and as recently as March this year, Surrey County Council confirmed new plans for an underpass were “in the pipeline”.

The underpass was a notable omission from the proposals presented by South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt to members of the Farnham Society in May, however, replaced by a new slip road connecting the A31 directly to Approach Road.

In a letter to last week’s Herald, Mr Hunt stressed only “some” of his concepts - developed in tandem with Surrey, Waverley and Farnham councils, the Farnham Society, Chamber of Commerce and architects - were exhibited, and that “nothing has been agreed”.

But in his own letter, Mr Blower has again made the case for a combined A31 underpass and roundabout, which “together with removal of traffic lights provides enormous benefits for the town centre, reducing through traffic and on Station Hill easing irksome tailbacks, delays and pollution.”