PARKING meters in Castle Street and a reduction in the time limit from two hours to one hour were among suggestions by Farnham town councillors last week to solve traffic problems in the town centre. At a meeting of the town council last Thursday councillors discussed the results of the Farnham Transport Study, calling for real-time signage, street scene improvements and a review of road signs in the area. Victor Ducket, town councillor for Upper Hale, proposed that parking in Castle Street be regulated as it is in Guildford with parking meters. "I seem to remember a long time ago we were looking at the street enhancement in Castle Street and I said at the time that we should have parking meters as they do in other areas. Obviously the people who live in Castle Street would have a badge but I think that people abuse Castle Street because of the free parking and it's about time we did something about it." Despite this suggestion, other councillors refused to propose a review into the prospect of meters but agreed a review into reducing the time limit to one hour along with an increase in parking enforcement. Roger Steel, town councillor for Moor Park, described Castle Street as one of the most beautiful streets in the country and questioned the need for meters. "Castle Street is an incredible street and I'm afraid that parking meters would urbanise it and that would be a great shame," he commented. Mr Steel also outlined the problem of A-roads in the town, adding: "Some of our A-roads are absurd. Some are small residential roads and this is one of our biggest problems at the moment. There is more traffic going down Station Hill in Farnham at nine in the morning than there is going through the Hindhead crossroads at the same time. They're spending billions of pounds to sort that out so why can't we sort out the traffic on Station Hill?" John Ward called for a reduction in street furniture, claiming that too many signs can be confusing and that the addition of real-time signage would result in too many "twinkling lights" around the outside of the town. "I don't want Farnham surrounded by flashing lights," he said. "Shortheath Road now has 59 signs and I wonder whether they are all necessary as all this street furniture ruins the town. I have to say that I love modernisation and computerisation of traffic lights but the idea of having these electric lights all around the edge of the town makes me think of Basingstoke." Other strategy options in the study include an increase in cycle routes, improvements in car parking, street narrowing and traffic calming measures to prevent rat running through residential roads. The town council's comments will now be sent on to the Farnham Traffic Task Group at Surrey County Council for consideration.
