LONG-awaited work to transform Farnham town centre could get under way inside the next 12 to 24 months.

That was the promise following a meeting of some of the most influential figures in town planning.

They met at the Memorial Hall to thrash out how to produce a masterplan that is key to unlocking the finance needed to introduce change.

And it is that solidarity that experts believe will pave the way to town-centre improvements – including pedestrianisation and other traffic measures – finally getting off the drawing board.

After Friday afternoon’s high-powered meeting at the Memorial Hall, Waverley Borough Council leader Julia Potts – who also sits on Farnham Town Council – said: “The meeting went really well.

“It wasn’t just because we all want a more attractive, vibrant place but there was agreement around the table that this is the catalyst to make it happen.

“All three councils involved – Waverley, Farnham and Surrey – were really keen to make sure we get the buy-in from all the groups.

“That’s ALL the groups – those that have already been involved in Jeremy Hunt’s projects up to now, as well as some of the smaller residents’ associations and residents who don’t normally have any input.

“We need this master planning to happen to actually understand what needs to be done. Clearly there is an aspiration for some form of pedestrianisation or shared space in the town centre.”

The meeting did not look at priorities. That’s the job of the consultants, likely to be Regenco, linked to East Hampshire District Council, who will be engaged – and paid for – by the three councils.

Cllr Potts added: “This is one of the reasons we’re commissioning the experts – to look at the mechanics of what would work.”

Critics will say it’s more talks followed by more talks with little action. But Cllr Potts said: “What we need to do is make sure people can see we’ve got some very clear timescales.

“The experts will come back in September with some proposals which will include longer-term, medium-term and short-term wins.

“There are going to be some short-term wins and that’s what we need. We need people involved to actually buy into it and see things can happen.

“I would deem a quick win being something we can start to implement within a year to two years maximum.”

Waverley chief executive Tom Horwood said: “We need a masterplan to show how Farnham could benefit from infrastructure and investment. It would have a prioritised list of transport schemes, supported by local feeling, local opinion and supported by evidence.”

And where will the money come from, when councils everywhere are saying they have no cash?

Mr Hunt, the MP for South West Surrey who also attended the meeting, said: “I’ve always thought a crucial role for me as local MP is going to be to help raise the funds for this, one way or another.

“We can’t do that until we have a plan that is feasible, practical and has the support of all the local authorities in the area.

“I’m now more optimistic than I’ve been for a number of years that we’re going to make this happen. Today is the day we move from it being a grassroots campaign from people in Farnham to being a project that is professionally run by the local councils responsible.

“The first thing is to work out a plan that works trafficwise and then we need to cost it. The best way of doing this is by putting together a masterplan.

“Where will the money come from? It depends whether you’re glass half full or glass half empty. If you want to be glass half empty, you could say there’s no money around and you know councils and governments run out of money.

“But if you want to be glass half full, you can say that this has been achieved by many other towns in the south east and if they can manage to do this, there’s absolutely no reason why Farnham can’t.”

Cllr Potts added: “The whole point of having a plan in place is to leverage other areas of funding, not just the government, not just necessarily the county or the borough councils.

“This is the mechanism that’s required.”

Stephen Spence and Andrew McLeod said: “As Farnham Residents county councillors, we have worked for nearly two years on a cross-group basis to take this project forward.

“We are delighted Surrey, Waverley and Farnham councils now seem to be at the point where they will work jointly to address Farnham’s traffic problems. Working together co-operatively in the interests of the town is the only way anything of substance can be achieved.”