Concerns about the scale and design of the development vied for prominence with worries about extra traffic, theatre provision and the future of Brightwell House during the two-hour meeting at Church House.
Chaired by Waverley councillor Captain Peter Burden, who is the chairman of the council group leading the redevelopment programme, the meeting left some key questions unanswered. A firmer idea of what the redeveloped area might look like will only emerge once bids from Waverley's eight shortlisted developers go on public display next month.
Despite the odd cynical comment, there was much goodwill and a shared desire to see the plans progress.
One sceptical comment came from Daryl Stinton of Castle Street Residents' Association.
Addressing Capt Burden, he said: "There's an atmosphere of deep mistrust. It's part of what's wrong with government downwards."
Capt Burden responded: "We've spent a long time on this with very little thanks, and you say you don't trust us.
"If Farnham doesn't get that area redeveloped, Farnham's vitality as a town will start to deteriorate. You cannot have that site remaining sterile."
Alan Lovell, of the Farnham Park Residents' Association, expressed concern about the "rush to get the contracts out by January".
Capt Burden, who estimated the redevelopment will cost about £50 million, responded: "The developers have probably spent £1 million already on their bids. If we keep them waiting, they will go elsewhere."
Mary Nevile, representing West Street, asked for an assurance that the listed 1792 Brightwell House will remain intact.
"I can't give you a cast-iron guarantee," replied Capt. Burden, "but if I were a betting man, I would give you very long odds against Brightwell House not being there."
Mrs Nevile won many murmurs of support for her comment about "another Lion & Lamb Yard".
The shortlisted developers had until Monday this week to get their bids in to Waverley.
Their ideas will be on public display at the Bush Hotel on August 9, 10 and 11.
Bill Tichener, of the Guildford Road Residents' Association, queried the logic of staging the exhibition during the holiday season when many Farnham people will be away.
Miller Stevenson, Waverley's property and development manager, conceded the exhibition dates were an "accident of timing".
Councillors sitting on the group leading the East Street regeneration admitted that the redevelopment is likely to generate more traffic, adding to the town's existing road problems.
Capt. Burden said to minimise traffic, the redeveloped area will be served by a park-and-walk scheme.
The thorny issue of theatre provision was raised by Roger Godfrey, of Rowledge Residents' Association.
Dr Rosemary Thomas, of the East Street group, said the development brief given to prospective developers only stated that the project "could include" theatre.
Outside Church House, members of the New Farnham Repertory Company (NFRC), including chairman and last artistic director of the Redgrave Ian Mullins, continued their campaign for theatre, preferably at the Redgrave, by handing out photocopies of pro-NFRC letters published in recent editions of The Herald.
p Waverley Council has announced that all eight short-listed developers have responded to the development brief for the East Street site and have submitted details of how they would develop the area.
The next stage of the process will involve the eight developers being invited to make presentations to Waverley's appointed evaluation panel.
The exhibition of their ideas will be held at the Bush Hotel, The Borough on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, 10 between 10 am and 4 pm and on Sunday August 11 from 11 am to 4 pm.