RESIDENTS of Kempshott say they are "horrified" after finding out they will be subjected to a staggering two years of roadworks on top of already ongoing maintenance.
Kempshott Lane, which has been a key location for various roadworks in the past year, will yet again be subjected to more maintenance work, this time on its sewers.
The work, due to begin on Monday, February 2, are estimated to last for 105 weeks.
A letter from Barhale, the company carrying out the work on behalf of Thames Water, explains that a new sewer is being installed along Winchester Road while two sections on Kempshott Lane are to be upsized.
READ MORE
-
Primary school pupils among more than 900 kids suspended over drugs and alcohol
-
More than half of Hampshire children in drug and alcohol treatment are aged under 15
-
Direct coach from Basingstoke to Wembley will beat traffic to national stadium
-
Driver waits in dark for two hours as another A303 pothole bursts 10 car tyres
-
Pothole of doom that damaged 14 cars is repaired but lane remains closed
"These improvements will strengthen the network and help reduce the risk of flooding in the future," it reads.
The work is due to take place Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and lane closures will be in place on both Winchester Road and Kempshott Lane, with no full road closures planned.
Simon Preedy, whose family has resided in Kempshott for 40 years, wrote to the Gazette to express his frustrations, saying: "There has already been significant disruption in Kempshott Lane for weeks since Summer 2025 with new gas pipelines being laid.
"And more at the moment with three-way traffic lights at the junction with Heather Way and Gracemere Crescent. Traffic jams can be horrendous in Heather Way at peak times, exacerbated by the current road closure of Homesteads Road close by.
"And now this... for two years?"
He explained that residents were advised that a complete resurfacing of Kempshott Lane was due in 2025, but would be delayed because of the installation of the new gas pipelines.
"Do these water works now mean a further delay to the proposed resurfacing?" he added, "In the meantime, Kempshott Lane residents and road users will not only be subjected to yet further disruption but also avoiding the poor quality temporary pothole repairs which come 'undone' before permanent solutions are made."
Hampshire County Councillor for Basingstoke South West, Stephen Reid, said he is "horrified" at the seemingly endless roadworks in the area.
He said: "Frankly, I am horrified by the amount of roadworks that we are experiencing in the Kempshott Lane area. It seems that, no sooner does one finish, than the next one begins. The gas companies, phone providers and water companies seem to be queueing up to dig into our roads.
"Kempshott Lane is in a terrible state, and a couple of years ago I succeeded in getting it scheduled for resurfacing. Then Thames Water announced that they would be digging it up, and the resurfacing was postponed – it would have been a waste of money to do that work only to have it immediately damaged again.
"It seems to have taken an age for Thames Water to give us details, and now we know that they want to spend two years replacing some of their sewerage pipes. This seems an inordinately long time, and I wonder whether they have simply come up with a plan that is convenient for them, without regard to the chaos they will be causing. Unfortunately, the Council cannot deny the utility companies access to their assets below the roads."
He shared fears that the works "may be linked to the huge numbers of houses that are slated to be built on this side of Basingstoke: something like 20,000 when it is all completed."
Share