SURREY County Council has confirmed the pedestrian island at the Castle Street/The Borough junction was removed because it was “often hit and damaged by large vehicles” – despite the imminent introduction of an HGV ban in the town centre.

The island was removed during resurfacing work last month, prompting fears for the safety of pedestrians.

A council spokesman said: “The existing traffic islands were placed in the centre of Castle Street before the retail units – like the florist – were built.

“As those units narrow the road, the islands were not in the best place and were often hit and damaged by large vehicles. Having reviewed the junction, the traffic islands were removed as part of the Castle Street resurfacing project.

“Instead, temporary barriers have created a new pedestrian space on the road side of the retail units. These improve safety by giving pedestrians a clear line of sight up Castle Street from the florist, so it’s easier to check if the road is clear before crossing.”

It comes after concerns were expressed by both The Farnham Society’s David Howell and Tory candidate for Farnham Central, Alison Fitch.

“How are elderly people and mothers with prams and children supposed to cross the width of the junction without a central refuge?” asked Mr Howell. “I watch many people already nervous at just crossing to the existing central island from the west side. Do people just wait in the middle of the road?

“I wonder whether even with the re-routing of HGVs and introduction of a 20mph speed limit whether it would be safe. Who on earth decided that was safe for pedestrians?”

And Mrs Fitch asked: “Are we putting access for HGVs before safety for pedestrians?”

She added: "It seems that the island has not been re-built following the re-surfacing of Castle Street. Indeed, one resident told me ’It is not being put back because it apparently hinders HGVs when they negotiate the corner.’

"On my own visit it was lovely to see the resurfacing work, but true the island has been removed. This is outrageous, was there a public consultation?

"Crossing Castle Street, at that point, has always been a bit ’dicey’ but now! I had a brief chat with a young teenager who said that the crossing without the island was like playing ’chicken’ and ’unsafe’. I didn’t feel like testing this but reflected on how an elderly person would manage crossing or a parent with young children.

"I asked Wyatt Ramsdale, the Conservative County Councillor for Farnham South what is happening? He replied that despite his opposition the officers do not intend to reinstate the Pedestrian Island!

"Wyatt also reminded me that in his division he is actively arguing for and arranging funding for new crossing points not less. The most recent being the pedestrian island on The Street (A325) in Wrecclesham to be built this summer.

"The pedestrian island on Castle Street offered a safe-haven, far better than a white line, for people as they cross the road and enabled everyone to safely deal with half the road at a time. I am gravely concerned about this matter and will be doing what I can to get things changed.

"Please contact me on this issue on my Facebook page @Alison4Farnham or by email to [email protected] , I would really like to hear your views on this, and I will fight for a pedestrian island at the bottom of Castle Street, even if it is a temporary one!"