Last Friday I attended our latest Farnham Board meeting regarding the Farnham Infrastructure Plan. After years and years of campaigning by me and others to transform the town centre, things are now really happening, so all in all it was a very positive meeting.

Firstly, I should note that lots of work has already been completed and lots more work is currently underway too. The Farnham Business Improvement District (BID), which I wrote about last summer, was approved and that unlocks significant investment into the town centre.

Brightwells Yard is opening up (and brilliant) with the new REEL Cinema and more openings set, and the overall plan for the town centre is ready to go.

There have been developments to roads as well. For example, the 20mph speed limits have been set up on Weydon Lane and in the town centre, and one on Upper Hale is due to start this year.

The Water Lane roundabout improvements have been given the go-ahead and the Wrecclesham Bridge warning signage has been repainted.

The A31 corridor has been approved by the Treasury, meaning it is ready to go to what is called ‘Outline Business Case’ – thank you to my officials.

There are also several further jobs that are about to be put into action. The town centre Community Infrastructure Levy Bid for £3.4 million was successful and that money will go into further improvements into the area – due to start in September.

The Water Lane improvements are under construction and some wider developments will start sooner than planned, such as the Borelli Park and Stride plans with cycle lanes.

It is all being taken forward by Cllr Tim Oliver, who is the leader of Surrey County Council and chairs a group including me, Waverley Borough Council, and Farnham Town Council.

This was one of the first causes I started working on when I became MP for Farnham almost 20 years ago, so it is really great to see so much progress now being made after all this time.

A huge thank you and credit must go to everyone involved over the years with this campaign.