FARNHAM Town Council has condemned a raft of “draconian” cuts to the town’s public services - which it says will hit many of Farnham’s most vulnerable residents, visitors and motorists, as well as increasing fly-tipping.

Responding to consultations by Surrey and Waverley councils, town councillors agreed to submit ‘strong objections’ to a further round of cuts at Farnham’s Community Recycling Centre as well as proposed car parking charges for Blue Badge holders.

At the same meeting, on July 27, councillors also criticised cuts to Waverley’s supported living service and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, while the town clerk informed members that Surrey has cut the local highway maintenance budget by 80 per cent.

As part of plans to save more than £100 million this year, Surrey has proposed closing Farnham’s recycling centre for two weekdays, ending the free daily allowance of construction waste and ensuring the tip is used only by Surrey residents.

Savings have already been made by closing the Guildford Road tip on Thursdays, and introducing charges for larger amounts of non-household waste.

But in its formal response to Surrey’s consultation, which closed on August 7, the town council said last year’s changes have “led to an increase in fly-tipping in the Farnham area with costs for removal being passed on to the individual landowners which is unfair”.

It added it would be “impractical” to close the tip for a further day, commenting that the current facility is “inadequate for the growing needs of Farnham” and should be relocated and expanded as part of an ‘invest-to-save’ programme.

“If re-investment in the existing site is not viable because of the size of the site an alternative should be sought and the land asset maximised,” the town council continued.

“Residents should be recognised for trying to do the right thing with their waste. This new round of proposed changes will only act as a further disincentive…and will inevitably lead to more flytipping.”

Surrey’s cabinet will consider the consultation responses before agreeing its final plans this autumn.

Farnham town councillors also condemned Waverley’s proposed charges for Blue Badge holders to park in the borough’s car parks at the July meeting, questioning whether “the additional income generated was worth the inconvenience being caused”.

Councillors expressed concern that disabled spaces were not close enough to ticket machines, “meaning that people with respiratory problems were significantly disadvantaged by the new arrangement”, and called for a pre-paid voucher system if charges were deemed necessary.

Waverley’s consultation on the proposed charges came to an end on July 21, and the borough council has vowed not to enforce the fees until after the relevant Equality Impact Assessments have taken place.

Andy MacLeod, town, borough and county councillor for Farnham Moor Park, also alerted members to a “draconian” cut to Surrey’s housing-related support for supported living services (full story on page two of this week’s Herald) on July 27, and expressed further concern about a proposed £10m cut to the county’s fire service.

“I’m a bit concerned about the effects on Farnham of all these cutbacks at Surrey,” Mr MacLeod told members: “I went to the open day at the fire station [on July 15] and met two of the fire officers, who said they are struggling to continue giving the services they provide.”

And adding to the sense of despair, town clerk Iain Lynch briefed members on an 80 per cent cut to Surrey’s local highway maintenance budget - including a 100 per cent cut to the town council’s ‘Highways Localism’ funding for smaller projects such as litter-picking and cutting back vegetation.

Mr Lynch warned this means “many of the smaller schemes in the town will not be taking place”, and blamed the cut partly on Surrey having to re-direct funds for the emergency repair of the ‘melting’ A31 Hogs Back in June.