THE developers of a Basingstoke estate that was designed with ‘shared use’ roads were meant to provide an alternative for visually impaired people, the Gazette can reveal.

As previously reported, residents living at Longacre – a Linden Homes housing estate on the A30 – have raised concerns about the lack of pavements making it dangerous for pedestrians.

The borough council and Linden Homes said the roads are designed to be ‘shared equally’ between vehicles and pedestrians.

READ MORE: 'Accident waiting to happen' - residents criticise 'dangerous' shared road design

However, there are no signs informing road users of this, and residents believe it is an “accident waiting to happen”.

Now, the Gazette can reveal that a document titled Highways Technical Note, prepared by Paul Basham Associates and published in June 2015 – before the homes were built – states that ‘shared surface schemes’ should include “alternative means for visually impaired people to navigate by”.

It adds: “The shared surfaces themselves will therefore be designed in a number of ways to ensure that there is no conflict with vulnerable road users.”

Residents at Longacre have raised concerns regarding children, disabled people and those with pushchairs being particularly vulnerable walking along a ‘shared use’ road.

SEE ALSO: Pavements left out of Basingstoke development because roads are 'shared equally'

However, so far, the borough council, county council and developers have refused to take responsibility.

Cllr Julian Jones, chairman of Dummer Parish Council, described the development as a “complete disaster”.

He said that members of a disability group in Basingstoke submitted a report to the borough council after the estate was built raising concerns about accessibility for disabled people and those with visual impairments.

He also pointed out that the homes at Longacre were meant to have a bus service as part of the plans, but this did not happen because of access issues.

“There should have been public transport so there would be fewer cars, but when Stagecoach reviewed the route, they said their buses couldn’t get round the roundabout,” he said.

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Cllr Jones said that in the original plans there was not meant to be a through road.

He explained: “If you look at the old plans it was split so there wasn’t a through road. During the development, they opened it up for the convenience of the developers and never closed it up.

“Most of it is the fault of the developer. It indicates that these people don’t know how to plan a development. The whole thing is pretty unsatisfactory.”

Ani Spalding, chair of trustees at Basingstoke and District Disability Forum and co-chair of Basingstoke's Diversity and Inclusion network, called on more to be done to ensure developments are accessible.

She added: "With one in five people in Basingstoke recognised as a disabled person as at 2011 and with that number expected to rise with an aging population and the effects of Covid - we all must do better in ensuring developments, infrastructures – including both the physical and digital landscapes - are all created with inclusivity and accessibility at the forefront.

"Not sadly as we see so often, considered as a costly afterthought that creates barriers to our friends and family.

"Let us all take that forward, become accountable and speak up for the members of our community that are disadvantaged by societal barriers.”

The Gazette asked Hampshire County Council why it has not installed signs informing people that the roads are ‘shared use’.

A spokesperson said: “Hampshire County Council’s responsibility, as the Highway Authority, extends to looking after the publicly maintainable highway only and those roads adopted as part of this network.

“Longacre is a private road and, therefore, remains the responsibility of the road owner.”

They added: “Any concerns about the road’s safety should be directed to them.”

The owner of the roads, management company FirstPort, said it took over the management of Longacre in four phases, the first three between November 2021 and February 2022 and the fourth phase in July 2022.

It therefore had nothing to do with the design of the scheme.

A spokesperson, however, said they would look into the possibility of road signage in consultation with residents.

They added: “The safety of our residents is our absolute priority, and now that we have been made aware of concerns, we can of course look into options around road signage in consultation with all our residents.

“The shared access areas are minimal, predominantly in side streets and boundary roads which are used for parking.

“We must ensure that any actions we take are an appropriate use of service charge funds that will benefit all our residents.”

Hampshire County Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and Linden Homes have all been asked for a comment on the Highways Technical Note and the report from members of a disability group.