COUNCILLORS are being kept in the dark over detailed plans for a major overhaul of Farnham’s road layout ahead of an anticipated announcement by Surrey County Council this September, town councillors have said.

Surrey County Council officers are in the process of developing a business case for a £115 million reconfiguration of the A31 Hickleys Corner junction, as part of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme.

And the Herald understands MP Jeremy Hunt is pressing for a referendum in the autumn to clarify the extent of public support for the emerging proposals.

However, as Surrey’s Hickleys Corner proposals is timetabled for submission to the Department for Transport in September, before the next scheduled meeting of the Farnham Project Board, concerns have been expressed that local views are not being taken into account.

Having already spoken strongly against an underpass at Hickleys Corner as part of a ten-page response to Surrey’s Optimised Infratstructure Plan for Farnham earlier in the year, town councillors have expressed “anger” that elected members are not to be consulted again on Surrey’s scheme before a bid for funding is submitted.

Farnham Town Council leader John Neale, presenting the minutes of the June 15 meeting of the town’s strategy and finance working group at last Thursday’s town council meeting, said there had been a “detailed and open exchange” between councillors on the next steps for the programme.

But Cllr Carole Cockburn interjected this was a “polite” way of phrasing it, commenting that members of the group were “blooming cross and frustrated”.

“The tone of the meeting was angry,” she said. “This is our town, but I don’t think anybody is listening to us. There is just not enough information, and not enough debate. It’s outrageous.

“I’m really worried about Hickleys Corner, and that Surrey could secure millions of pounds in funding for a scheme none of us wants.

“You have to take people with you on a project like this. There are thousands of people in the town with not a clue of what’s going on, and there should be a debate with residents.”

Lib Dem councillor for Badshot Lea, David Attfield, added: “The Farnham Infrastructure Programme allows Surrey to tick a box to say we have been consulted. But at the end of the day, as the ‘experts’, they are going to do what they want. We are all just NIMBYs!”

And responding to a question by Cllr Mark Merryweather, Cllr Neale confirmed even members of the Farnham Project Board have not been given oversight of Surrey’s developing Hickleys Corner plans.

The town council leader said: “The project team is not engaging with board members as much as they should be, and we are pressing for more active involvement.”

But he added hopefully: “I can’t believe they would put forward detailed plans without consulting us.”

And Cllr Neale also reassured members that Surrey’s September submission would be “indicative” only, and resolved to press Surrey to allow the town council to review the proposals for Hickleys Corner “ahead of board sign off”.

Town clerk Iain Lynch also advised that a special council meeting could be called to consider Surrey’s proposals if required, confirming: “The Farnham Project Board meeting in September will receive the outline proposals Cllr Neale has described.”

He added: “This will be a ‘high level’ submission to confirm plans for Hickleys Corner plans are in the pipeline so the Department for Transport can allocate the money required for the scheme.”

He added a Local Liaison Forum is also scheduled to be held remotely on July 15, in which councillors and the public will be updated on the progress of the Infrastructure Programme.