A RESIDENT from Hatch Warren has spoken of their surprise at finding a ‘pretty country lane’ ‘defaced’ by new white lines.

The resident, who does not wish to be named, contacted The Gazette after coming home from shopping on Friday, 8 March to find that white lines had been painted on one side and down the whole length of Hatch Warren Lane.

The resident said this happened without warning to any of the residents who live either in or near the road.

The lines are believed to have been painted by Hampshire County Council.

Speaking to The Gazette, the resident said: “It was a real shock. They have defaced a very pretty country lane by painting white lines down it, it almost feels criminal.

“The road is a cul-de-sac and it is a quiet lane with hardly any traffic coming down there, it just seems unnecessary. There is no pavement on this road, and there doesn’t seem to be any need for it.

“It is probably the last remaining country lane in the whole of the area and now it has these wobbly lines going down it.

“This is a pretty country lane and particularly when the trees are in full leaf it is pleasure to walk along in what is otherwise quite a developed area, with Brighton Hill to the east of the lane and Hatch Warren to the west.

“It is enjoyed by many people who know the area and see it as a rare oasis, possibly the last country lane still within the town boundaries, sadly now spoilt by the addition of these ugly white lines.”

One of the main reasons that it felt unnecessary, according to the resident, was that there is already a footpath that goes along the road already.

This path has both sides connecting on either side of the road, with one end passing the gate of Hatch Warren School and the pavement running to the end of the Cornfields.

The resident added: “While it is a popular road with dog walkers and other people, we have never had a problem with pedestrians or cars in the road.

“There are only eight or so houses down there, and anybody who is very worried about walking down there can take the footpath going around.”

Safety is already one of the concerns of the new lines. As there is no official pavement, the lines go directly in front of the drives of the houses that are in Hatch Warren Lane, with cars potentially exiting the driveways and into the path of the new area.

The resident said: “I don’t want to undermine any safety measures or anything like that, but people who drive around here know that if there were people in the road who were walking, then people drive slowly so that there are no problems.

“Another serious concern is that if pedestrians do stay within the new designated area it directs them to walk right across drive entrances and increases the risk of them coming into contact with cars exiting the driveways, as the majority of the properties have walls, fences, and hedges fronting the road.

“Another of the problems is that people will just walk in the road, as they don’t tend to keep within the lines.

“We all wish to promote road safety but this action has failed to enhance that and has actually achieved the reverse.

“This lane is a rare environment for people and wildlife to enjoy within an otherwise built up area but it has now been ruined by the addition of white lines without any thought to the consequences and the increase in risk to pedestrians it has caused.”

Councillor Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport for Hampshire County Council, said: “The white lines have been put in place in Hatch Warren Lane to link existing footways in the area to provide school children attending Hatch Warren Infant and Junior schools with a safe, accessible, and clearly marked walking route to school.

"By linking the footways in this way, the aim is to encourage pupils and parents to use the Park & Stride car park at the Portsmouth Arms, rather than drive to the front of the schools in Gershwin Road, as that route gets very busy during the school runs.”