A PROPOSAL by councillors to ban heavy goods vehicles from entering Farnham town centre was vetoed by Surrey Police as they “are not committing any offence”, it emerged this week.

In December 2012, Surrey County Council highways officers proposed introducing an 18-tonne weight limit in Castle Street and Folly Hill to limit “unnecessary through movements by large HGV vehicles” in Farnham town centre to improve pedestrian safety.

This was endorsed by the council’s Waverley Local Committee, chaired by Farnham councillor Pat Frost, and councillors agreed to put the proposed weight limits out to public consultation.

However, for reasons unknown until now, the police refused to support the proposals and so the consultation was never undertaken.

A Surrey Police spokesman explained: “Our view at the time was that many of the HGVs that enter the town are delivering goods and therefore have a legitimate reason for entering the town.

“We stated that we could not commit the police resources for enforcement as the vast majority of HGVs entering the town are there to deliver and are not committing any offence.”

The spokesman added: “In addition we understood that the scheme was not being proposed for any casualty reduction purpose, but one of air quality and again we stated that it was more appropriate for us to concentrate our enforcement on issues that can reduce injury collisions on our roads.”

The debate over Farnham’s HGV troubles was reignited last week after a 30-tonne lorry got stuck on the corner of Castle Street and The Borough, prompting many frustrated motorists held up by the lorry to air their grievances on social media.

In response, county councillor for Farnham Central, Mrs Frost, this week shed light on the council’s ill-fated HGV ban.

She told The Herald: “To say I was disappointed with the police response is an understatement. I initiated this and was delighted when highways came up with a proposal and to have it dashed by the police was as I have said disappointing.

“However, we will continue to press for this in the work we are doing about the town centre traffic.”

A Surrey County Council spokesman conceded last week that imposing any restrictions on HGVs in Farnham “is very difficult” as these would likely draw objections from other organisations.

However, the spokesman added the county council is currently looking at an alternative scheme for Farnham which would help the current situation.

“It’s something we have studied and are expecting a full report into the idea in the near future,” the spokesman said.