A NEW move is afoot to secure major changes to the Crest Nicholson scheme for East Street, born out of a forum organised by the former Mayor of Farnham, Bryan Sell. Representatives of pressure groups were joined at the forum by others representing a wide spectrum of interests, whose voices have not as yet been heard. The 30 or so people "players" in the East Street development, gathered at The Old Courthouse last Friday, courtesy of Sir Ray Tindle, ranged from members of Rotary and other town organisations, to businessmen, architects, property owners, and representatives of the Farnham Society and pressure groups East Street Action and CEASE. The upshot was the formation of a small group, not including members of any pressure group, who will put forward their views on the plans, how they see Farnham's future and what they consider suitable for the site. Comments were made at the forum that Waverley merely laughs at the pressure groups. Roger Steel of East Street Action, who chaired the forum, stressed afterwards that the new group would specifically be made up of representatives of organisations and individuals who have actively done good for the town - people that have the respect of councillors of both parties. Typical of these, he said, was Ken Kent, the developer of schemes generally believed to fit in with the character of the town, including St George's Yard and Borelli Yard and Mews. Major Sell said the object of the forum had been "to obtain a concensus of informed and concerned and representative Farnham opinion of what would be an acceptable, viable and modest development of East Street". He looked ahead to the group voicing its considered opinions in such a forceful way that the planners and developers must listen, and wished it every success. "There is still a lot of unfinished business to be done in the East Street saga, and in particular the need for a holistic approach to this vital development, which will impact upon the character not only of East Street, but the whole town. "An opportunity exists which simply must not be lost, which may happen if the project is driven purely for financial gain." The forum began with various speakers dealing with the perceived shortcomings of the current East Street scheme. Former Waverley councillor Rosemary Thomas, who was chairman of the East Street Task Group set up by Waverley to consider the regeneration of the derelict section of East Street, spoke of "many opportunities that have been lost, many ideas that came from residents of Farnham that were not taken up". "When this started off it was called the East Street Regeneration Project. Subsequently, in 1999, it became the East Street Area of Opportunity. There is a huge difference," she observed. Gordon Harris spoke of the many concerns of the Farnham Society over the height, scale and massing of the development. Other speakers dealt with the loss of the Redgrave Theatre, traffic fears, flood risk, technical concerns over the underground car park and fears that the level of parking being provided would put the squeeze on the town's traders, especially with a 1,200-seater cinema to be served. But the direction of the meeting was changed by forthright comments from Ken Kent, who cautioned against "whingeing" and urged everyone to pool their efforts. The developer, who was responsible for the development at the corner of Dogflud Way and East Street, said it had long been his dream that East Street's day would come. "I am getting concerned over the scheme, but I think we are talking about minor things," he said, stressing that technically there was no reason why the flood risk couldn't be managed and the underground car park achieved. In his view, the issues to be addressed were overdevelopment, an unbalanced scheme with far too much housing for the centre of town and car parking provision that was "a farce" in terms of numbers. The idea for a small representative group came from Rotary member Bob Cozens, who suggested that unless everyone pulled together, "they will just laugh at us behind our backs". "Let's have some influential dignitaries lead the band for a while. We are looked at as a bunch of busybodies," agreed Eric Boyle, of East Street Action.
