A COUNCILLOR is calling for reassurance that concerns over the state of Kempshott Lane will be taken seriously as residents prepare to deal with more than two years of disruption from roadworks.
As previously reported, Kempshott Lane is to be subjected to a further 105 weeks of roadworks on top of what has been described as "endless" disruption, as a new sewer system is to be installed underneath.
Now, ward councillor for Kempshott and Buckskin, Sean Dillow, is urging for disruption to be minimised and for the condition of the road to not be allowed to deteriorate further during this period.
He said: "I completely understand why residents are fed up, and I share their frustration. For people who live in and around Kempshott Lane, the constant cycle of roadworks has become exhausting. No sooner does one set of works finish than another utility company arrives to dig the road up again, causing disruption, delays and real inconvenience to everyday life.
READ MORE
-
'Horrifying' roadworks down busy lane to last more than TWO YEARS
-
'200-year-old' protected town centre tree to be chopped down despite objections
-
'Safety hazard' - Flytippers dump huge pile of bricks in country lanes overnight
-
Plans for huge neighbourhood park at Manydown submitted to council
-
Date revealed for when residents find out if their home is under threat
"Kempshott Lane itself is in a dreadful condition and has been for some time. I have repeatedly raised concerns about its state and have campaigned for it to be resurfaced.
"Residents quite rightly feel that they are being asked to tolerate poor road conditions alongside months – potentially years – of disruption.
"The prospect of two full years of works is particularly worrying. That is an extraordinarily long timeframe for such a key route, and there is real concern that insufficient thought has been given to the cumulative impact on local people."
He called the road a "vital" north-south route and, when disrupted, "the effects are felt well beyond Kempshott itself."
Cllr Dillow said he is frustrated and, with thousands more homes to be built in the town, the already strained infrastructure will be made worse with significant disruption.
He continued: "My frustration is only heightened by the fact that this side of Basingstoke is also facing significant increases in housing numbers in the coming years.
"With thousands of new homes planned, the pressure on existing infrastructure is already intense, and prolonged roadworks on a key artery will only make matters worse."
He promised to pressure Hampshire County Council to ensure that the state of the road is improved over the course of the works, saying: "Residents deserve reassurance that their concerns are being taken seriously, that disruption will be minimised wherever possible, and that the condition of the road will not be allowed to deteriorate further during this period.
"I will continue to press Hampshire County Council to ensure that any opportunities to carry out repairs or resurfacing alongside these works are fully explored, because Kempshott Lane simply cannot be left in its current state for another two years."
Share