CONTROVERSIAL plans to make mini- roundabouts part of a south Farnham traffic- calming scheme have been put on hold due to pressure by residents. The scheme, currently being constructed in Echo Barn Lane, Shortheath Road and Ridgeway Road, was intended to include a series of mini-roundabouts - but that part of the proposal has now been "put on hold" by Surrey County Council (SCC) until "further local consultation can be held". The decision was made at a meeting of SCC's local committee in Waverley last Friday, after a petition had been presented by residents unhappy with the proposals and with the lack of consultation that they claimed they previously received from SCC. At the meeting, the committee traced the history of the scheme, from the initial consultation process that was carried out in 2002, which resulted in a number of changes to the proposals. They explained that, "at that time, the decision was taken not to undertake further consultation on the same scale for the revised scheme, in view of the considerable costs involved, so instead SCC put the scheme to the local residents' associations, shopkeepers and a ward meeting, and a further meeting was held at a school. As a result the revised scheme was approved". But since the implementation of the new scheme went ahead - which included the mini-roundabouts - it became clear that there was local opposition from residents who claimed they had not been properly consulted. This was eventually expressed in a petition. At the meeting, Waverley local transportation director Peter Phillips, said: "I am looking at this scheme with a fresh pair of eyes, and see it as sound, safe and appropriate for the location. "The accident rate is unacceptable and something must be done. However, it is also important that we listen to the views of local residents." It was eventually agreed that, while the other elements of the traffic-calming scheme would proceed, the mini-roundabouts would be put on hold. Now a local consultation will be arranged on the implementation of mini-roundabouts or alternative proposals, subject to the necessary funding being made available when the local transport plan programme for 2005/6 is determined. Surrey has said: "The consultation would benefit from the fact that some elements of the scheme would already be in place."