A COUNTY councillor is appealing for views on plans to reduce much of Farnham’s one-way system to a single lane in a bid to ensure the safety of pedestrians and re-start the town’s economy.

In a letter, co-signed by the leader of Farnham Conservatives Pat Frost and Pete Goodman of the Farnham Cycle Campaign, Tory councillor for Farnham South Wyatt Ramsdale said: “As the lockdown is eased and shops and businesses re-open, many of us are going to want to visit Farnham town centre and, at the same time, use precautions like social distancing.

“But the pavements are too narrow normally without trying to achieve social distancing or take or push a child buggy or bicycle on the pavement.

“Generally we want economic activity, but we want it safely for customers and staff.

“How about we use the current quiet period to temporarily cone off a lane, or section off many of the roads in the town centre, to provide extra-safe space for pedestrians?

“We think this would enable safer use of the shops and businesses as they start to re-open and provide useful trials on how wider, safer pavements might be introduced in the long term.

“A particular advantage of temporary changes is they are ‘temporary’ and flexible – if something doesn’t work, or a new factor like roadworks or utility repairs have to be allowed for, they can.

“We have had suggestions to create space for cyclists, but for now we believe the priority is to find space for pedestrians who may have to queue at two-metre distances before entering a business.”

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