Stand by for re-run of the East Street exhibition

FARNHAM people will get an unexpected second chance to view eight proposed visions of a redeveloped East Street next month.

Waverley council, which is overseeing the long-awaited multi-million-pound regeneration drive, says its decision to stage the second viewing at the Gostrey Centre from September 6 to 8 is in response to the unexpected number of visitors to last weekend's exhibition at the Bush Hotel.

But many of the 1,650 visitors to that showcase will feel the council is trying to make amends for the first exhibition's shortcomings, amid a growing cynicism which will be further fuelled by an alleged comment by a senior planning officer that the exhibition was "merely a courtesy PR exercise".

Even Captain Peter Burden, who is leading the redevelopment project as chairman of Waverley's East Street Special Interest Group, conceded: "I hold my hands up. I was there all day on all three days and it was too small, overcrowded and people didn't feel they had enough time.

"The Bush was selected by SSMR (Surrey Social and Market Research, Waverley's consultants for the exhibition) and by officers because it is central, has disabled access and would pick up passing visitors."

Capt. Burden said the Gostrey Centre, which is in the centre of the proposed redevelopment site, had been chosen to re-stage the exhibition because it meets all the requirements and is also larger.

Letters to The Herald this week have been dominated by complaints about the exhibition, to the near exclusion of any discussion about developers' proposals.

Correspondents felt The Bush was too small, resulting in overcrowding. There were complaints that developers' displays were hard to see, inconsistent and difficult to understand, with small text and poorly labelled diagrams.

Others felt each of the eight displays should have been manned by a developer representative and that there should have been more literature for visitors to take away - only Countryside Properties provided this.

But the public also expressed more fundamental concerns about the purpose of a questionnaire they were handed and 800 completed and returned.

Waverley has stated it will choose only one developer, but the public has not been asked to express a preference in the SSMR-drafted questionnaire, leading some to question its value.

One member of the public who visited the exhibition on the opening Friday demanded of Waverley leader David Harmer a referendum so the public can choose its favoured developer.

But Mr Harmer responded: "I love referenda but it wouldn't be a sensible option. The public doesn't know about the financial side of things: as well as choosing what's best for Farnham we've got to get the best deal economically.

"I also think most people expect their councillor to make the right decision."

Alleged comments by Waverley's planning and development manager Miller Stevenson will do little to appease an air of resignation about the ongoing consultation process.

Vice-chairman of the Farnham Society Bill Tichener, who otherwise praised Waverley for its co-operation, particularly in letting he and fellow members in to Sunday's exhibition an hour early, alleges that Mr Stevenson told him in a telephone conversation that the exhibition was "merely a courtesy PR exercise".

Mr Stevenson is reported to have made a similar comment to another Farnham civic group.

When asked about the comment, a Waverley spokesman for Mr Stevenson said: "Miller denied categorically using the word 'merely'. He said it was a PR exercise in that we were showing the schemes to people straight away. We didn't put on the exhibition for no reason."

Addressing that apparent gaffe, and suspicions from some quarters that a developer has already been chosen, Capt. Burden joked: "They will be shot! This has not been a PR exercise: people's opinions will be taken into account.

"I swear on a stack of Bibles that no decision has been taken."

But his and fellow Conservative David Harmer's reassurances will not appease Waverley's Liberal Democrats.

Reiterating her previously aired concerns about the largely non-Farnham make up of Waverley's 15-councillor East Street developer selection panel, member of the East Street Special Interest Group Marie King-Hele said: "Waverley Conservatives voted to de-list Brightwell House, against Lib Dem opposition, because they do not appreciate Farnham's strong conservation values. Fortunately Brightwell House was saved.

"The same ruling Conservatives, most outside Farnham, also lack the knowledge of Farnham's needs."

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South West Surrey Simon Cordon said: "It seems that none of the developers have fully met the planning brief."

And former town mayor and current town councillor Victor Scrivens added: "Farnham has a strong cultural history. Inclusion of theatre and cinema is essential, and so far, all of the proposals fall short."

Waverley said it was "delighted" with the interest shown in the exhibition.

The council said the second exhibition will be open for longer - though opening times are yet to be confirmed - and will contain the same information as before.

The questionnaires will again be handed out, though the responses will have less influence as they will arrive after selection panel councillors have interviewed would-be developers.