THE mayor of Farnham is demanding more information from the developers chosen to regenerate East Street.

Carole Cockburn, a Conservative councillor on the Liberal Democrat-controlled Farnham Town Council, says the council should represent people's views but cannot do so without being kept in the picture by Crest Nicholson and Sainsbury's.

"I would have to say it's disappointing because it's so important," she said. "The town council has got to be the organisation that represents the people of Farnham and makes sure those views are articulated, but if we're not given the information it makes life a bit difficult.

"At the moment there's no transparency whatsoever. No-one is aware of what's going on. We know what we want to say but there's no opportunity to say it."

Mrs Cockburn says the council has not heard anything from the developers since they signed a conditional contract with Waverley in March, effectively committing both parties to the redevelopment, though either party could withdraw anytime before December 2006.

Shortly before that contract was signed, the town council had sent a clear message to Waverley, based on a vote at a public meeting, that the people of Farnham thought the development envisaged in Crest Nicholson and Sainsbury's master plan was too big. Such concerns were raised again at a private meeting about East Street, organised by former town mayor Bryan Sell and hosted by Herald proprietor Sir Ray Tindle. The meeting was attended by key councillors, including Mrs Cockburn, campaigners and Terry Prescott, an executive at Crest Nicholson.

Invited guests agreed not enough information has been made public about how the plans are progressing and how successful the new Lib Dem-controlled Waverley council has been in negotiating a reduced redevelopment, a key manifesto pledge.

Eric Boyle, secretary of CEASE (Campaign for East Street Evaluation) was among the most concerned.

"The public have very good reasons to be unhappy," he said. "I go to council meetings and I'm very worried that there isn't the buzz in the debates there used to be. I get the impression that most councillors are muzzled."

Mr Boyle said public consultation had been "very loose" and that the "only opinion that matters" is that of the vast majority of those who called for a reduction to the scheme at the public meeting held by the town council in March.

Waverley councillor Chris Mansell, the portfolio holder for the East Street redevelopment, was often tight-lipped when pressed for details. But last month he issued a statement saying new buildings in South Street will be limited to three storeys in height and will have variable roof lines, in line with calls from the Farnham Society.

Mr Mansell said it would be impractical to continually update the public about changes being discussed. The aim, he said, is to produce a "good enough" plan to form the basis of a second master plan to put before the public before outline planning permission is sought.

He envisaged Farnham Town Council having a key role in representing the public at this point.

Mr Mansell said that negotiations with key landowners were going "perfectly satisfactorily".

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Prescott said: "We are now at the point where the developers and council are working together with the architects to act on the comments received.

"Once updated, the scheme will be displayed again before a planning application is submitted. We will explain what has been changed and why it has been altered. Where elements have not been changed we will also explain why.

"At the moment, though, we are working very hard to strike the right balance, and the revised scheme will aim to suit as many people as possible. We will make sure everyone is updated as soon as there is news to announce."

The East Street redevelopment will be discussed in public by Farnham Town Council's planning and traffic committee at 5-30 pm next Thursday (September 25).