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Pedestrian Access — Old Park Lane & Castle Hill#

Farnham Voice has written to Surrey County Council’s Countryside Access Team regarding both FP92 and FP86. We are seeking technical guidance on what improvements may be feasible for local residents, rather than requesting an immediate funding commitment. This page will be updated as responses are received.

On this page#

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Background#

Farnham Voice’s examination of the Old Park Lane area for the Safe Crossings work identified that crossing safety and pedestrian access are two related but distinct problems.

The heritage assessment found no clear safe location for a traditional crossing on Castle Hill near Old Park Lane. This means that safe, year-round pedestrian access to the town centre depends on the quality of the existing walking routes — public footpaths FP86 and FP92.

Alongside the Safe Crossings and Traffic Calming initiatives, pedestrian access in the Old Park Lane area has emerged as a third pillar that needs to be addressed specifically.

The problem#

Residents of Old Park Lane and the surrounding area have no safe formal crossing providing direct access across Castle Hill. The existing footpath network offers alternative routes towards the town centre, but both FP92 and FP86 have practical limitations that reduce their usefulness as dependable pedestrian connections — particularly during wet weather, winter, and after dark.

If these routes cannot be relied on year-round, residents are left with no safe option other than walking along Castle Hill itself — a road with documented collision history, no pavements in places, and no crossing provision.

Footpath FP92#

FP92 provides an important alternative pedestrian route towards the town centre. Sections of the path cross open ground and can become difficult to use during wet weather, limiting its usefulness as a year-round connection.

What has been raised with Surrey:

  • An appropriate all-weather surface — firm, stable and well-drained — while remaining sensitive to the rural character of the path
  • No particular construction or material is being proposed; appropriate solutions might include compacted self-binding aggregate, a permeable aggregate surface, or another treatment considered suitable by Surrey

Planning application WA/2023/01467#

FP92 passes through the site of planning application WA/2023/01467 (Old Park Lane development — 83 homes granted on appeal). During the planning process, Surrey’s Rights of Way Officer requested contributions towards widening and resurfacing affected public footpaths, alongside improvements to nearby routes, with measures to be secured through the Section 106 agreement.

Farnham Voice has written to Surrey’s Countryside Access Team requesting clarification on:

  • What improvements to FP92 have been secured through the S106 agreement
  • Whether these include resurfacing, widening or accessibility improvements
  • What surface specification is currently proposed
  • The extent of FP92 covered by the secured improvements
  • Whether lighting improvements remain proposed or secured
  • When the relevant works or contributions are expected to become available
  • Whether there is an opportunity to coordinate these works with improvements to the wider FP92 route

Footpath FP86#

FP86 provides a pedestrian connection towards the town centre, but the condition of the walking surface and inadequate lighting reduce its usefulness — particularly during winter, poor weather, and after dark.

What has been raised with Surrey:

  • A suitable firm, stable and all-weather walking surface
  • Assessment and improvement of the existing lighting provision, particularly poorly lit or unlit sections

There is relevant local precedent for this approach. In late 2024, Surrey County Council temporarily closed Public Footpaths 171 and 302 near Riverside to widen and resurface FP171 as a shared pedestrian and cycling route, including lighting installation, landscaping, and tree work. Improvements at Borelli Walk in Farnham included widening and resurfacing an existing public footpath to improve accessibility, alongside additional lighting. Farnham Town Council has also supported footpath and lighting works through the Farnham Infrastructure Programme.

Farnham Voice has written to Surrey’s Countryside Access Team requesting advice on:

  • The feasibility of providing an all-weather surface along FP86
  • Assessment of the existing lighting and identification of sections requiring improvement
  • Appropriate surface and lighting specifications
  • Any landowner, drainage, ecological, heritage or other constraints
  • How the proposed works could be costed
  • Potential funding routes, including S106, the Farnham Infrastructure Programme or other appropriate sources
Backward Collision Records — Safe Crossings Locations Highway & Streets Glossary Forward
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