Government scraps £115m Farnham A31 road improvement scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 11:19 · Archive

The government has ended plans for a major £115 million road improvement scheme on the A31 in Farnham, Surrey.

The government has ended the A31 Farnham Corridor scheme, which would have improved one of Surrey's most important and congested roads. The project, estimated at around £115 million, could have delivered an underpass or redesigned junction at Hickley's Corner, along with improvements to the Coxbridge and Shepherd and Flock roundabouts, pedestrian and cycling crossings, and better movement between north and south Farnham.

Gregor Stafford, Conservative MP for Farnham and Bordon, called the decision a 'betrayal' that had 'failed' constituents. He noted that Hickley's Corner has been the site of a fatal collision and many serious injuries in recent years. Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council, said it was 'deeply frustrating' the government had abandoned the scheme rather than work with the local authority to deliver improvements.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said the previous Conservative government 'did not fund these projects'. Given the challenging financial situation, the government said it could only progress schemes that offered good value for money. The spokesperson added the government was backing drivers with over £1 billion for 16 major road schemes and £7.3 billion to repair local roads and fix potholes.

How it is being reported

• Government scraps major road improvement schemeOfficials say the scheme was unfunded by the previous government, though some call it a "betrayal".BBC Surrey · 9 Oct, 16:06
• Anger at Government 'betrayal' as £115m Farnham A31 Corridor road improvement scheme scrappedThe Government has scrapped plans for major improvements to the A31 through Farnham , according to the town's MP.Farnham Herald · 9 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Farnham · A31 · Surrey · Gregory Stafford · Department for Transport · Tim Oliver · Surrey County Council

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