Councillors and organisations are currently embroiled in debate to try to sort out Farnham's busy town centre.

Pollution levels have traditionally been high, and traffic is often at a standstill.

Some people want full pedestrianisation; others say it will kill off the town.

But one councillor decided to take the debate one step further - and, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter  Emily Coady Stemp, had colleagues at Surrey County Council chuckling over his “charming” imaginary letter from a street to a car which said they could be “friends with benefits”.

Emily reports: With a message which said “enough is enough”, the Conservative member on the county council took the role of the street, saying it had put up with the car’s “overbearing ways for well over 100 years”.

Councillor Trefor Hogg (Camberley East) said: “I’m sorry car, but we need to talk about things because our relationship really isn’t what I want.

“I’m afraid I don’t feel about you the way I used to.

“I’ve changed and I’m no longer in love with you.

“We can still be friends, we could even be friends with benefits, but as a street I need to feel nice and comfortable and healthy.”

As part of a debate about rolling out a guide to planning healthier streets across the county, Cllr Hogg said “real change” was needed and admitted his imaginary break-up letter was a “humorous” way of putting it.

The council’s chair, Cllr Helyn Clack (Conservative, Dorking Rural), called the letter “charming” at a full council meeting this week.

The letter said there should be space even for e-bike enthusiast Cllr Paul Deach (Conservative, Frimley Green and Mytchett), who is the council’s deputy cabinet member for environment.

Cllr Hogg said the street needed to be seen as a place where people could “keep healthy in mind body and soul” and would see trees and green spaces.

He added: “I need them to breathe untainted air and to know that they are encouraged to get some healthy exercise.

“So I’m sorry car, but things have got to change.

“I’ve put up with your overbearing ways for well over 100 years and enough is enough.

“If that’s a bit painful for you, well, that’s tough.

“You’ve had your chance, and now it’s mine.”

The debate on the motion also heard that lorries were damaging buildings in some of Surrey’s most picturesque villages, and that the boroughs and districts would not be able to easily adopt the Healthy Streets for Surrey guide into planning policy.

An amended motion was agreed by the council, which will consult with Surrey’s lower tier authorities on adopting the guide.