HEAVY congestion in Farnham town centre is a “walnut that needs to be cracked with the biggest sledgehammer”, one councillor has said.

Historic listed buildings are at risk from the amount of HGVs going through Castle Street and Castle Hill, a meeting heard.

People are finding it easier to walk across town than to drive because of the traffic jams, while some are saying crossing the road has become dangerous. 

Congestion in Farnham was mentioned four different times at the Waverley Local Committee on Friday, with references to the need to reduce traffic for environmental and safety concerns.

Cllr Stephen Spence, Farnham Residents county councillor for Farnham North, said: “There is clearly a traffic management problem in Farnham. We keep dealing with these issues one by one. But we have got to deal with them in a holistic way.

“I think the time has come both with Waverley’s masterplan and schemes getting the traffic under control needs to be brought to a head. Everyone who can provide a solution to this needs to be harnessed and brought together to crack this walnut with the biggest sledgehammer we can find.”

Earlier the meeting received a petition signed by 327 people calling for a safe pedestrian crossing in Longbridge because children and adults were finding it difficult to cross.

Presenting the petition, Cllr David Beaman said: “I don’t think we should wait until someone is injured or there is a fatality.”

He also asked if a 7.5 tonne weight restriction could be imposed on Castle Street and Castle Hill “before any major real damage is caused” to historic listed buildings and the people inside. 

Another question was raised about the reconfiguration of the Woolmead loop road and concern was raised about traffic to Hale and Lower Hale.

In response to Cllr Beaman’s question, Frank Apicella, Surrey County Council area highway manager, said: “It is important that Farnham town centre is looked at as a whole and that proposals for individual roads and junctions are not considered separately and in isolation, there needs to be a holistic approach to traffic movements in Farnham.”

It comes just a week after the Herald launched its Cut the Pollution campaign with the backing of town MP Jeremy Hunt, who has called an emergency pollution summit to tackle the issue.

Mr Hunt, who met residents during a walkabout in Farnham with town council leader John Neale this week, has confirmed the summit will be held on Friday, October 25, for invited councillors and civic representatives.

Rebecca Curley

Local Democracy Reporter