HAMPSHIRE County Council says its reviewing its options over the Camrose link road after councillors rejected plans to build over the historic football ground.

On Wednesday, the development control committee at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council voted against Basron's proposals to build flats and a care home on the Winchester Road site.

The borough council, who own 29 per cent of the Camrose, are proposing to give the land to Hampshire County Council for free to allow it to develop the so-called Camrose link road - previously described by councillors as a "pointless road". 

Planning permission to build this road was granted earlier this summer, with a clause stating that work could not start until mitigation for the loss of the football stadium had been agreed.

However, following on from Wednesday's decision, the county council said it is now reviewing its options. 

Cllr Rob Humby, executive member for economy, transport and environment at HCC said: "Following the decision of Basingstoke and Dean[e]'s planning committee, the county council is reviewing its options for delivering the Brighton Hill roundabout improvement scheme."

The Gazette also asked Cllr Humby the following questions, which did not receive answers:

  • Are you still hoping to go ahead with the project in its present form? If so why, and if not what are the alternatives or is it back to the drawing board?
  • Are HCC considering simply scrapping the link road from the roundabout proposals and reopening the Western Way entrance, with the traffic light controlled junctions meaning the danger arguments are no longer an issue?

The county council intends to begin major upgrades to Brighton Hill roundabout next year, which will see traffic lights installed and the subways replaced with at-grade road crossings.

And a road would be routed through the current site of the Camrose ground and onto Winchester Road to service traffic. 

But after councillors threw out the applications at a meeting on Wednesday, the county council have been left with planning permission for a road, but without the ability to implement it.