SOUTH West Surrey MP Virginia Botttomley gave her backing to plans for re-generating East Street when attending the second display of developers proposals.

More than 630 people turned out to see the plans at Brightwell Gostrey Centre, with half those visiting the exhibition submitting feedback forms to Waverley Borough Council.

This was considerably less than the initial exercise in which 1,600 attended at the Bush Hotel - which was criticised by residents as being to cramped and lacking clarity.

Despite this, it was hailed as a success by its organisers who said the two exhibitions were the most well attended of their kind within Farnham.

In response to complaints the first exhibition did not have any scheme comparisons, the Gostrey display published data on proposed priorities for each prospective developer.

Included within these figures were details of retail and housing plans, retail space and intended car parking provisions.

Mrs Bottomley described the project as a "crucial priority":

"I am excited by the fine examples of construction work that developers can introduce with regeneration in the community.

"I like the mix of residential and retail plans, and particularly like the priority which Waverley Borough Council has given to affordable housing."

However, on the issue of what it to become of the Redgrave Theatre, which she has championed since its closure, she said "residents had to be realistic in their expectations".

She said: "We have found it extremely difficult to find a financially viable way forward"

She declined to comment on whether it would be missed should it be demolished.

It was, she said, the decision of Waverley Borough Council on whether the building stayed, though she hoped the name of Redgrave would continue in the town.

She praised the work of both the council and Captain Burden, who leads the group responsible for the project, in their efforts progressing the scheme.

Speaking at the exhibition, council leader David Harmer confirmed there still remained the option "to do nothing, if that is what the people wanted".

However, he warned if this happened, then developers would not return to the town with new proposals.

Acknowledging criticism of the initial exhibition, Captain Burden said the the second display had been a great success, and he remained confident a clear favourite for the project would emerge.

He said from all those he spoke to during the course of the weekend's exhibition, everyone was in favour of the site being redeveloped, having seen its current state.

"We are delighted with the number of people who attended the exhibition last weekend. We took on board the comments from the previous one and improved the layout of the developers' schemes.

"The Brightwell Gostrey Centre proved to be an extremely popular venue, it was large and bright with plenty of room to move around."

He reaffirmed his belief that not to regenerate the area would be "disastrous" for Farnham and its future viability, as effectively one quarter of the town was lying unused.

"At the moment this site provides no employment or business rates and is totally non-productive. However, It could contribute a lot through jobs and new businesses."

The results of the feedback from the two exhibitions are due to be released in the next few weeks.

Captain Burden said people had expressed preferences in the response forms, despite a lack of a formal question on this.

He said the company behind the displays, Surrey Social Market Research had kept its questions open to allow a broad response.

The East Street Process is next to be discussed by Waverley Borough Council on Monday, September 16.