The owner of a wine bar wants to serve up a taste of reality to council bosses on how “improvement’ work is affecting Farnham town centre.

David Quick is convinced there’s been a downturn in town centre trade since work began on the main stage of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme.

So the Borelli’s Wine Bar & Grill boss has invited Surrey County Council (SCC) leader, Cllr Tim Oliver, and Gregory Stafford MP to see for themselves with the pair reputedly agreeing to meet him at the top end of Downing Street next Friday morning.

Mr Quick said: “I’ve spoken around and we’ve definitely seen a drop in trade since roadworks began, and especially since they started on Downing Street.

“You’ve only got to look at Central Car Park. It used to be full all the time but it’s half empty now.

“We’ve definitely seen a downturn but the lights seem to be the big problem – how long are they staying?”

While Farnham has long been a by-word for traffic, it does appear to have worsened since work began with long queues regularly forming on Union Road, Long Bridge and Firgrove Hill into the town centre.

Part of the problem seems to the proximity of the temporary lights at the top of Downing Street with those at the pedestrian crossing around 100 yards south.

Cllr Catherine Powell stated in a recent correspondence with SCC officers that the crossing lights have definitely held up traffic, but it looks as though there won’t be a change in the meantime judging by the council’s response.

“The team has reviewed this crossing and is recommending for it to remain operational,” said SCC’s response, adding that it stops traffic for 13 seconds.

“Suspending this crossing would mean pedestrians may struggle to cross in free-flowing traffic conditions.”