We have reached another milestone in delivery of the Farnham improvement plan, with the start of installation of signs in the town centre and in Weydon Lane to support new 20mph zones. 

These speed limits, which have been supported in local consultations, will help to make those zones safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

We’ve also seen the last of the wayfinding maps installed in the town centre – this time at the station – which are designed to help visitors navigate around the town without using their cars.

Detailed design work of the town-centre improvements has been continuing, including seeking information from businesses to ensure they can continue to be viable during construction and implementation.

The project team invited representatives of the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People to walk round the town so they could properly understand their experiences of navigating town centres.

The Surrey County Council cabinet recently approved funding of £14million for the works in this next phase. 

Farnham Town Council has also agreed a contribution, and we’re preparing an application to Waverley Borough Council for a contribution from the Community Infrastructure Levy or CIL – which comes from developer contributions to fund infrastructure.

On-demand electric buses

Another way the county council is supporting people in Farnham and surrounding villages to travel and to reduce the carbon footprint is ‘Surrey Connect’ – our door-to-door, on-demand bus service.

The accessible and electric buses cost an adult just £2 single for a journey of under five miles, up to £6 for a seven- to ten-mile journey. 

The service is open to everyone and enables people of all ages to reach GP surgeries, attend hospital appointments, access further education and training, or go shopping.

It’s another way we’re providing people with alternatives to the car – which will help to reduce congestion and improve air quality.

To book a journey, visit www.surreyconnect.org.uk, download the Surrey Connect app or call 01428 681710, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

Update on The Edge

I’m sorry The Edge leisure centre’s continued closure is causing disruption to valued local sports clubs.

I recently met with Paul Follows, the leader of Waverley Borough Council, and Jeremy Hunt MP, where we discussed progress on reopening the centre.

The county council has agreed to fund maintenance of the building and maintain access for Woolmer Hill School, while the borough council has been looking to source an alternative operator so they can re-open the centre for some community use outside of core school hours.

By Tim Oliver

Surrey County Council leader