An ambitious overhaul of Farnham town centre has begun with the closure of Riverside Walk for improvements.

The section between Brightwells Yard and the Riverside car parks was due to close this week ahead of a three-month revamp.

The existing footpath will be widened and resurfaced to create a shared pathway for pedestrians and cyclists with the work also including new lighting and landscaping.

The path will be upgraded to create a “hard surface for enhanced accessibility” with the work expected to take 11 weeks according to Surrey County Council.

Flooded Riverside Car Park Farnham
The Riverside car parks end of the walk was flooded recently! (Jenny Floyer)

A spokesperson said: “This upgraded pathway will make it more enjoyable and easier for residents to move to more sustainable and active ways of travel.

“It will make it easier to Park and Stride from the Riverside car park to the town centre.”

The footpath will be closed for the duration of the work with pedestrians encouraged to use Mike Hawthorn Drive and Dogflug Way in the interim.

Although work on the Borelli’s Walk section between Brightwells Yard and South Street is scheduled for a later date, SCC preview maps have warned the footpath could also be subjected to closure.

The footpath upgrade is the first phase of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme with work set to start on the main scheme next month.

The second phase will focus on West Street to Castle Street with vehicles being allowed to turn right at the bottom of the latter and two-way traffic being introduced to The Borough.

Full details will be confirmed shortly but the initial work is expected to start in mid-February and should take two weeks. Temporary traffic lights will be installed and some overnight road closures will be put in place.

For more details about the project and further work look for Farnham Infrastructure Programme at www.surreycc.gov