PLANS for a multi-million pound overhaul of Farnham town centre’s road network emerged this week, after Surrey County Council confirmed it is exploring a comprehensive “decongestion” scheme expanding on MP Jeremy Hunt’s pedestrianisation proposals.

Surrey commissioned a £7,000 feasibility study last December with a view to installing two new mini-roundabouts at the access to Wagon Yard and Central car parks, as well as reversing the one-way system in a section of Downing Street.

It came just six months after the MP for South West Surrey, Mr Hunt secured a majority ‘yes’ vote narrowly in favour of the principle of introducing shared space and a possible part-time pedestrianisation of Farnham town centre, comprising the two mini-roundabouts.

Results of the county council’s feasibility study are still anticipated, despite early indications it would be completed in late spring or early summer, 2014. However, it emerged this week that the county council is advancing plans for an even more comprehensive solution to the town’s traffic woes and its impact on air quality.

Responding to a letter by Rowledge architect Mark Westcott asking for an update on the pedestrianisation scheme, Mr Hunt confirmed Surrey County Council’s highways team “are working on a traffic scheme for the whole of Farnham”, adding this would “take time” to complete.

The Secretary of State for Health said: “The modelling and design work take many months, with the team not just working on how to pedestrianise the borough but a de-congestion scheme for the whole of the town.

“I appreciate that it may feel that progression is slow but this is a project which is very much classified as long term largely due to the impact on highways and a methodical approach therefore needs to be adopted when implementing any scheme of such significance.

“Work is ongoing and as county councillor, Pat [Frost] is in frequent touch with highways for progress reports. As soon as there is a scheme to put before the town it will happen.”

Improvements to Farnham’s outdated one-way system have long been called for, exacerbated by the town’s recent struggles with air pollution.

Annual concentrations of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - which are especially harmful to sensitive groups such as young children or people with existing respiratory illnesses - currently breach EU objectives at a number of locations in Farnham, chiefly The Borough and Station Hill.

Last November, Waverley Borough Council, the authority responsible for environmental health, agreed to progress plans for a de-facto congestion charge and Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Farnham to tackle the town’s chronic air pollution issues.

However, Farnham’s congested road network has long been cited as the route cause of high NO2 levels, with concern that major developments in the town area such as Waverley’s Brightwells scheme and Taylor Wimpey’s 120-home development on the Beavers Road hop fields will compound the problem in years to come.

As such, many feel the local highways authority, Surrey County Council holds the key to unlocking the problem in the long term.

Pat Frost, county councillor for Farnham Central and chairman of the Waverley Local Committee, said: “Farnham has two major problems: congestion and air pollution. With the additional developments going on in the town it is essential that an overall transport scheme is produced, and this is currently being worked on by [Surrey] Highways but it cannot be done quickly – whatever is done in the town centre has knock-on effects in other parts of the town such as Hale and these must be considered.

“Putting all this together takes time, but you may be assured that when we have something to show the people of Farnham we will do so. [Fellow county councillors] Denise LeGal, David Munro and myself are working very hard on this but before it goes public we must make certain it is as right as it can be.”

Mrs Frost added the county council is exploring the possibility of implementing a comprehensive de-congestion scheme including pedestrianisation, “in parts” to avoid having the whole town in turmoil at the same time.

She continued: “One part we are currently exploring is making Downing Street two way at that section where the old police station stood. The intention is to make the junction with Lower Church Lane and Downing Street two way, thus enabling drivers to exist the town south via a mini-roundabout - this will stop south-bound drivers having to drive round the one-way system.

“I am told this is feasible and it is being priced and designed as I write. All this is a major transport project – and, at a guess, is likely to cost several million pounds. However what is important is to get the scheme on paper for public consultation and we are aiming to do this as soon as possible.”

The design and costing of the Downing Street element of the scheme is anticipated later this autumn.