CAMPAIGNERS have called on the council "to do the right thing" as they continue the fight to stop traffic being routed during the early stages of the Manydown development along a key community road.

Labour candidate for Winklebury and Manydown Alex Lee presented the petition to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on Monday night.

As previously reported the petition calls to stop construction traffic being routed sown Roman Road and impacting on residents.

SEE MORE: Residents raise fears over 're-routed' construction traffic

Residents had previously understood that traffic would enter the site via a trunk road on A339, Kingsclere Road, when works begins on the 3,500-home housing development.

He said: “The development has been the source of frustration to many residents of Winklebury and Manydown for a long time. From the scale of the development on their doorsteps to the loss of open space and the effect, it has on the wildlife in the area. These combined with multiple developments and the closure of Fort Hill Community School have added worry to families.”

If plans go ahead this would mean that there would be 200 traffic movements a day from construction vehicles – this could either be HGVs or work vans.

Mr Lee said he was presenting the petition on behalf of “worried residents” who have not been “listened to”.

Alex added: “The site traffic including many HGVs will rumble along the road for a significant period causing delays and adding a risk to their safety for years to come.

“I will not stop informing those who have the ability to do something about this issue and I am sure you are tired of hearing me talk about this but it is an important issue."

The petition states that 1,400 residents are directly affected by this due to their roads being connected to Roman Road.

READ MORE: 'Full of dodgy claims': Basingstoke council approve latest budget despite attack by senior councillors

He added: “Many more will be affected and the fact that site traffic and many more rising residential traffic is expected to use Roman Road is counter to what was originally on the plans.”

More than 300 people have currently signed the online petition asking the council to refuse any plan that sees the Manydown site being initially opened up at a new junction on Roman Road and instead the preference being given to building the junction to the north of the site, on the A339.

Mr Lee called on the council to “do the right thing” and to “listen to residents' calls”.

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