In accordance with Standing Order 10.1, the Town Mayor will invite members of the public present to ask questions or make statements.
At the discretion of the Town Mayor, those members of the public, residing or working within the Council’s boundary, will be invited to make representations or ask questions in respect of the business on the agenda, or other matters not on the agenda, for a maximum of 3 minutes per person or 20 minutes overall.
Minutes:
1 Ms Ionella Emmett addressed the Council and relayed comments from other residents, including individuals with disabilities who were unable to attend.
She commended the Council on recent initiatives, including the new Christmas lights and Farnham sign, the success of the Christmas Market, and the £1 festive parking offer, which was said to have encouraged town centre footfall and support for local businesses.
She also raised concerns regarding the impact of current and forthcoming roadworks on access to the town centre and requested that the £1 parking scheme be extended until at least the end of July, to cover ongoing disruption, including anticipated works on Castle Street and school traffic. She also suggested that the Brightwells car park be made free for the duration of the works.
Ms Emmett raised safety concerns about the Castle Steps which had been investigated by SCC officers but not fixed; about access to Farnham Park which was hazardous for pedestrians, and about parking access for people with disabilities in the Hart Car Park.
In response, the Mayor advised that car parking was not a Town Council responsibility but the budget meeting for car parking at Waverley Borough Council was coming up in January and he encourage a question be raised in that forum.
2 Mr Steve Hamilton, a business owner on Downing Street, addressed the Council regarding issues arising from recent works delivered through the Farnham Infrastructure Programme (FIP). He expressed concern about the design and maintenance of new pavements, noting that a high proportion of space has been taken up by flower beds, loading bays, and crossing points which were felt to be poorly defined and impractical.
He said the newly installed surfaces already appear dirty and stained, including oil and diesel spillages outside premises on Downing Street and asked what long-term cleaning and maintenance arrangements would be put in place to protect the Council’s investment. He advised, on behalf of businesses, the closure of The Borough and Downing Street, with required clarity on traffic diversions and the likely impact on traffic flow between North and South Farnham to avoid congestion and safety issues at key junctions, including Folly Hill and Castle Street.
In addition, Mr Hamilton expressed disappointment that the streetscape improvements had not resulted in a cohesive or heritage-sensitive appearance, citing the placement of large refuse bins and street furniture as detracting from the town’s character. He suggested, if space allowed, that town centre noticeboards be installed at key locations to provide information about events and activities, particularly for residents who do not use social media. The removal of previous banner infrastructure was noted, and concern expressed that visitors and residents are often unaware of what is taking place in the town.
In response, the Mayor confirmed that street cleanliness was recognised as an issue and that although Farnham Town Council was not responsible for street cleansing, discussions were ongoing with Waverley Borough Council, and trials had taken place using mechanical cleaning equipment and the Town Council was prepared to contribute to enhanced cleaning arrangements.
The Mayor clarified that works on Downing Street and The Borough were not yet complete, with further phases still to be delivered and there were ongoing discussions regarding the design and positioning of rain gardens/planters, both locally and with Surrey County Council and the FIP team and FTC input had already influenced changes. The Mayor advised the Council was seeking to represent business interests wherever possible. In terms of parking and traffic management, Surrey County Council had been asked to improve enforcement, particularly in relation to illegal parking by delivery vehicles and lorries as poor parking and also review the traffic signal operation, particularly on West Street.
Concerns relating to street furniture were being addressed with FTC agreeing plans to replace existing bins with a more heritage-appropriate design and the possibility of installing town centre noticeboards was noted.
Cllr Martin advised that noticeboards could be funded by Your Fund Surrey.