HIGHWAYS and planning were the key concerns raised by residents at Haslemere Town Council’s annual meeting.

Former town mayor Michael Barnes, who leads the Longdene Action Group opposing “unsustainable” developments proposed for up to 40 new homes, seized the opportunity at Last Thursday’s meeting to press the town council to forge a closer relationship with Surrey County Council’s highways department.

The group is keen for greater local input into tests done to check roads can support increased traffic movements. Mr Barnes said: “Haslemere Town Council has no relationship with Surrey County Council over traffic due to developments and communications with Surrey County Council are very difficult.”

Town mayor David Round responded: “Our county councillor has had personal problems and the situation will change shortly perhaps.

“Surrey County Council has been starved of funds and is millions short so I do have sympathy with Surrey and there is a backlog on roads.

“We do need better communications. All we can do is write a stroppy letter to the leader.”

Haslemere Rotary president John Robini voiced his frustration that nothing had been done to improve a Wey Hill “eyesore” that was “nodded through” under a general permitted development order that does not require a planning application.

“Please can Haslemere Town Council get answers from Waverley Borough Council about the abomination,” he said. “We don’t seem to get answers about what they are doing when things go wrong.”

Mr Round replied: “I approached them when this blew up. Apparently they had problems with the builder who has since been fired.

“The architect is now back on the scene, but it might be a case of too many cooks spoil the broth. Be assured town councillors are very much on the case.”

Haslemere borough and town councillor Jim Edwards added: “We have had a meeting about this at Waverley and the architect gave a list of things to address.

“He has suggested the best way forward and we are waiting to hear what will be done and when it will be done. We are on the case.

“It’s not brilliant but it will be for the better.” Mr Robini objected: “I do wonder if this would have happened if it had been in the high street and not Wey Hill.”

There was applause when former town mayor Brian Howard asked for a mention of the death of longserving Hindhead councillor Michael Dover to be included in the report of the annual meeting.

Agreeing, Mr Round said it was thanks to Mr Dover that Haslemere was “on the map”.

Concern was also raised about the “shabby” hoarding that has fenced off a proposed development site for many years which extends from the railway bridge to Majestic Wines warehouse.

Students from Woolmer Hill, Liphook’s Bohunt and Milford’s Rodborough schools – together with youngsters from the Wey Centre in Wey Hill – joined forces to paint their very own diamond jubilee tribute on the hoarding in 2012.

Mr Round said: “It looked brilliant when it went up. That site is now going to be developed.” Mr Edwards added: “We have had a number of complaints and we are waiting to hear from Rodborough and Woolmer Hill if they want to come back. If they don’t, we will take enforcement action to tidy the site up.”

Mr Round opened the meeting with a report covering the main activities since March 2018, highlighting the “wonderful” commemorations to mark the centenary of the First World War; the town council’s efforts to regain control of its green spaces; plans to improve toilets after taking over the lease from Waverley; action to get more cash machines in the high street following a number of bank closures; and greater CCTV coverage action due to ‘non visibility’ of police.