A SURVEY conducted for the East Street redevelopment partners has been heavily criticised by two Liberal Democrat Waverley councillors.

At a meeting of the full council on Tuesday night, Marie King-Hele and Duncan Steel both questioned the veracity of the results of the survey conducted for Crest Nicholson and the Sainsbury's Property Company.

Speaking at her final full council meeting before she retires after 31 years, Mrs King-Hele described the results as "worthy of Alastair Campbell" (the Prime Minister's press secretary). "The survey avoids the real issues," she said.

Referring to the signing of a conditional contract with the developers, Mrs King-Hele, whom along with all her fellow Lib Dems, opposed the successful Conservative move last month, added: "I leave this council strongly opposed to this development.

"I find it extraordinary that Conservatives are saying they're going to try to scale it down and get a development that the people of Farnham want. I can't see how they can do that."

Talking about the results of the survey, fellow Lib Dem Duncan Steel said: "This is a great example of how to spin some not particularly good results. Almost three-quarters of people agreed there should be more housing, but the question didn't ask how much. More than two-thirds agreed they want more shops, but again, they were not asked how much."

The survey was conducted by consultants PPS and is based on 524 completed questionnaires handed out at public exhibitions of the redevelopment proposals in February and March. The results also take into account views expressed in comment books at each of the exhibitions, visited by 1,600 people.

According to PPS, just over 80 per cent agreed that the East Street area regeneration is important to the future of Farnham; just over 10per cent disagreed.

Other results were as follows:

l More than 85 per cent put a cinema at the top of priorities for leisure space.

l More than half put more bars, cafés and restaurants within their top three priorities for leisure space.

l Other facilities suggested included a concert hall, ice skating rink, indoor karting and theatre.

l As well as more leisure facilities for Farnham's young people, there was enthusiasm for dedicated youth facilities within the scheme.

l More than 80 per cent were in favour of the developers' plans to keep and enhance the Brightwell Gardens.

l More than 75 per cent were in favour of the plans for a new town square and open space by the river.

l Almost three quarters agreed that new accommodation should be provided within the scheme.

l Over two thirds agreed that 30 per cent of this should be affordable housing.

l A "priority" was that the proposals do not worsen existing traffic congestion in the town centre.

l More than half were in favour of a shift away from car use in Farnham town centre in favour of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport, but the necessity for car parking provision was also mentioned frequently.

l More than two thirds were in favour of new retail units.

l The majority were in favour of better community facilities, improvement of town centre security and encouragement of public transport use.

Terry Prescott, of Crest Nicholson, said: "The exhibition is just one part of our ongoing consultation and we still want to hear from as many people as possible."

The developers will hold further public exhibitions of their final masterplan before submitting any planning applications.