A HISTORIC town centre core with 20 mph speed limits, reduced-width carriageways and priority for pedestrians could be the future for Farnham, under proposals that have emerged in the Farnham Sustainable Town Initiative Action Plan. The Farnham Town Council-funded study by TRL Ltd has reached its third stage - the action plan - and proposals costed at £855,000 were proudly unveiled to the council's environmental services committee. A lot of the ideas will be considered radical, for instance the study puts the controversial reduction of Downing Street to single carriageway, shelved by Surrey County Council some years ago, back on the agenda. All the proposals will be subject to consultations and modelling by Surrey County Council, and cash constraints mean most will have to wait until at least 2010. But in essence the traffic management measures recommended are aimed at minimising through traffic and circulating traffic, providing pedestrian priority and encouraging "park and stride". The idea of 20 mph speed limits on Downing Street, The Borough, South Street, East Street and Union Road, enforced with the help of traffic-calming features, is put forward. And in the core area designated for improvement, it is proposed that the carriageway width is reduced to the minimum standard - 6.1 metres. The study states: "The additional space that is achieved should be reallocated to pedestrians and can assist in providing a pedestrian- friendly environment, enhance vitality (through street cafes etc), enhance the overall quality of the environment through the provision of benches and soft landscaping and consequently reduce the level of conflict between users." Park and stride is seen as the way ahead to reduce through traffic and it is suggested that the viability of a car park at the junction of Castle Street and Old Park Lane should be investigated. In the long term, it is envisaged that the central car park could be closed and the space reallocated as a central plaza. The study has aimed to identify the significant issues in Farnham with regard to motorised traffic, pedestrian and cyclist accessibility, casualty risk, congestion and degredation of the historic environment. In a street-by-street analysis of the current situation, common themes emerge of poor quality and narrow footways, substandard crossing points, unsuitably high speeds for the town centre location and illegal parking by HGVs at all times of the day. Remedial measures proposed include reallocating space to pedestrians through widening footways, use of buildouts, informal pedestrian crossings, loading bays and disabled parking. In some cases, weight or timing restrictions on HGVs are suggested. The hoped-for outcomes include less congestion and pollution in the town, a pedestrian/shopper experience less dominated by traffic and "a possible decision by some drivers to seek alternative routes". The study, councillors were told, has had a very favourable reception from Surrey County Council. However, the county council, as highway authority, has advised that, even subject to a successful bid for funding from the government, due to existing commitments the cash for highway works in Farnham will not be released prior to 2009/10. But some short and medium-term measures may be able to go ahead in advance of that date. The committee suggested as a suitable candidate the introduction of the historic core zone - an area for particular enhancement with "gateways" to indicate to motorists that the zone requires special treatment. In due course the zone would be enhanced through the use of different materials and textures, as well as introducing appropriate street furniture and signs. Facilities to encourage cyclists were also seen as a possible early starter which would not require too big a budget. The study identified that the lack of "an overarching vision" for Farnham is potentially hindering efforts to broker concerted action between Surrey, Waverley and Farnham in relation to transport, development control, retail and tourism strategies. The proposal is that a Farnham Development Group is set up to co-ordinate the efforts of the three local authorities. Recently retired long-serving county councillor Marie King-Hele congratulated town councillors on a project that "puts people first" and only wished a start could be made sooner. "Let's hope we are all alive to see it happen," she commented. Town councillor Victor Scrivens described it as "a first-class document" and suggested it should be put forward to the National Association of Town Councils as "a prime example of what town councils can do". He added: "We are trying to cut down on the amount of noxious fumes in Farnham. I look forward to much more radical ideas over the next few years." "It is a splendid document. Making sure it is delivered will be the difficult thing because that is not within our control," observed Mark Norris. "The next stage is to sit down with Surrey and talk about what we can do with them in terms of helping the funding."