A SURREY county councillor has spoken out to highlight the impact on Farnham if the proposed Northbrook Park development is given the green light.

The proposal could see 800 houses built at the site, located on land off the A31 near Bentley, as well as a school, a pub, shops and employment space.

Wyatt Ramsdale, Surrey county councillor for Farnham South and a junior cabinet member, said if the development did go ahead, impacts on Farnham included:

* Increased vehicle movements on the A31 and in the town centre;

* Increased vehicle movements on the A325 in Wrecclesham;

* Increased air pollution in areas already of concern; and

* Increased health-and-safety risks for other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

He also highlighted long-term solutions for Farnham included a South Farnham bypass, taking traffic around the conservation area in Wrecclesham and avoiding the low railway bridge.

Mr Ramsdale said: “As soon as I saw the plans for this potential site I thought ‘but that is where we want the bypass and relief road to go to take the traffic out of Farnham’.

“I then reflected on how obtaining the funds of millions of pounds for a bypass from a central government fund needed the justification of new development.

“I don’t know the local site issues that may or may not see the site get planning permission, but I do know if it were to get approval then we need constraints to make sure the future road routes remain viable and that infrastructure contributions are made to Surrey as well as Hampshire. Indeed they could also make contributions to mitigate more short-term issues such as air quality.”

Lynley Griffiths, secretary of campaign group Wrecclesham Village Voice, said: “There is no doubt the proposed 800-home Northbrook Park development will increase traffic on the A31, and especially traffic congestion on all arms of the Coxbridge roundabout junction at peak times.

“Additionally, there being no right turn to Farnham station from the A31 eastbound, there is potential for Northbrook Park residents to use Wrecclesham Road and other streets as a cut-through route, creating rat-runs on Weydon Lane, Greenfield Road and Upper Way.”

According to Mrs Griffiths, the increase in traffic would have a huge impact on local road users, including children walking or cycling to Weydon School.

“It will impact the air quality on Wrecclesham Road and roads in central Farnham,” she said.

“If the development were approved, Hampshire, Farnham Town, Waverley and Surrey councils and councillors must collaborate to ensure, as part of any development, strict controls are placed on the developer and adequate funding is provided for new and significant traffic management improvements in our local area.

“Councils must also ensure the proposed development does not, in any way, thwart the potential of a Wrecclesham and South Farnham bypass.”

Mr Ramsdale added: “The feedback the Speed Watch team receives from police shows a significant number of speeding vehicles belong to Hampshire residents as well as Surrey residents.

“With a bypass, the through traffic will get home sooner, the commercial traffic be more efficient, the local traffic be safer and less polluting than the current traffic, enabling walking and cycling to school again.

“We know funding a bypass needs residential and employment-building business development – and the 800 homes at Northbrook Park look like such a scheme.”

As well as ensuring future routes for a South Farnham bypass and Farnham Western relief road are not constrained, Mr Ramsdale has also suggested if the development were included in the final version of the East Hampshire Local Plan and achieves planning permission, the developer should put land aside for use as a park and ride scheme and develop a truck stop with facilities and overnight services alongside the A31.

* Have your say on the East Hampshire Draft Local Plan before Tuesday at tinyurl.com/y3pj6slb