MILLION-POUND plans to enhance the centre of Romsey have been delayed for a year, the Advertiser can reveal.

Enhancement work on Bell Street was due to have started earlier this month, but due to “contract reasons” the developers could not start the job until March or April.

But this angered local residents, business owners and councillors who lobbied for the work – which would take 26 weeks to complete – to be pushed back until January 2018.

And earlier this week, that proposal was agreed by Hampshire County Council (HCC) and Test Valley Borough Council planning chiefs.

Approval was given as business owners were worried their trade would be majorly impacted because the work would take place over the summer months – their busiest period. This would also have impacted on the upcoming Romsey Festival (see page 3).

Test Valley borough councillor and chairman of the steering group for Romsey and District Society Clive Collier, said the new start date was the best solution to the problem.

“I am delighted to hear that the (council) officers, who are doing the scheme, have accepted that a March or April start would be detrimental to the vitality of the town centre, and they have agreed to put it back to a clearly more acceptable time.

“The officers made it clear they would be bending over backwards to accommodate Romsey Baptist Church, retailers and also residents.”

However, the councillor added he would be seeking answers on the amount of time the work would take, after it was previously billed to be completed after no more than 14 weeks.

“I was gobsmacked to be told it would take 26 weeks.” he added.

“That causes enormous unhappiness, especially if they were actually going to start in March (this year).

“I will be seeking assurances from the (council) officers involved to get that timeframe reduced. I want a clear explanation as to the reason for this additional twelve weeks.”

As reported, the first phase of the improvements took place in Church Street earlier this year.

The works included the raising of the carriageway to the same level as the footpaths and the narrowing of the road to encourage lower vehicle speeds. Street furniture was also replaced.

The second phase will enhance Bell Street. It will include making the road and footway one level from just north of the Newton Lane junction up to the Market Place.

The footways on Bell Street will also be repaved with Yorkstone – in keeping with the scheme which was recently completed in Church Street – and the road will be resurfaced and narrowed in order to reduce vehicle speeds and aid accessibility.

On-street parking will also be removed so that the wider walkways can be accommodated.

Following that, work will begin on improving Market Place.

In total, the county council says the three-phased scheme will cost at least £1.5 million.

Cllr Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport at HCC, said: “Following our public consultation at the end of last year, we had a further meeting with residents and businesses earlier this month on more detailed plans about the works to improve Bell Street and specific time frames.

"We’ve listened to local concerns about the impact the works might have during the summer and have therefore agreed to delay the start of works to January 2018 so the scheme can be completed before the summer, minimising disruption for businesses at their busiest time of year.”