BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council’s scrutiny committee will examine proposals to fund a new footbridge at Bramley railway station after councillors raised concern over the plans.

As previously reported by The Gazette, members of the borough council’s Cabinet agreed to ringfence £450,000 for a new railway footbridge in Bramley – despite opposition to the scheme from the parish council.

The funding was allocated from the Local Infrastructure Fund, part of the New Homes Bonus Scheme provided by central Government, which aims to help deliver “larger ticket” facilities and infrastructure improvements of over £25,000.

Councillor Ranil Jayawardena, deputy leader of the borough council and Bramley ward member, submitted a bid for £450,000 from the fund towards a £1million railway footbridge at Bramley railway station.

The project, which would be in partnership with Hampshire County Council and Network Rail, would seek to provide a quicker and safer access across the level crossing.

Bramley Parish Council also attended the original Cabinet meeting on October 28 to talk about a late bid for £355,000 for a series of safety initiatives including the provision of a puffin crossing, a 20mph zone and more cycle routes in Bramley.

However, the Cabinet agreed to look at the parish council’s proposals for a future round of funding.

But, a group of five councillors – Independent members Chris Tomblin, Martin Biermann and Ian Tilbury and Labour councillors Laura James and Paul Harvey – have called in the decision because they feel the decision was not taken properly and because of concerns raised by Bramley Parish Council and local residents.

The call-in application says: “The signatories are concerned that such a significant sum, in effect the vast majority of the parish’s money, will be spent on one single project of such magnitude without the proper engagement of the parish council and residents, and believe that local democracy requires an opportunity for the decision taker and proposer to be properly questioned.

“The signatories are also concerned that the proposed solution as documented will not be suitable for access by residents with mobility issues and so would appear to be in breach of many of the council’s own policies.”

The committee will discuss the decision at a meeting on Thursday evening and will recommend further action, if required, to the borough council’s Cabinet.