Money to seek solutions for air quality in Farnham

The money will come from the Government and will be used to study how effective various options for improving air quality in the town would be.

While Waverley is likely to be able to detail the best solutions for Farnham as a result of this study, implementing them is likely to rest with Surrey County Council as the highways authority.

The study funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will test the effect on pollution levels removing the gyratory system and replacing it with other traffic management would have in the centre of Farnham.

Proposed other options may include:

• Discouraging traffic from the A31 bypass from using the town centre
• Heavy Goods Vehicle restrictions within Farnham
• Part-pedestrianisation of some streets
• Reduced speed limits
• Loading restrictions on the most congested roads in Farnham
• Introducing a "no idling zone" at Farnham level crossing

Cllr Bryn Morgan, councillor responsible for environment at Waverley Borough Council said: "This study can only highlight what the best solutions for dealing with Farnham's air quality issues may be. It will then be for the county council to decide what it believes is best and what it is willing to fund. Waverley will continue to press for the problems to be dealt with it but we can only provide the information - the county council has to fund and implement solutions. We shall, however, impress on the county council the extent and the urgency of the problem."

"The provision of funding for this study indicates the level priority afforded to the problem in Farnham. It also shows the Government has confidence in the work Waverley has done to date in managing and trying to deal with air quality issues in the town. Officers like Honor Puciato, our air quality officer, have worked hard to secure this money so we have facts to support whatever the solutions may be."

More information

Find out more about Air quality in Waverley.