Councillor questions state of entrance road in Picket Twenty

Hampshire County and Test Valley Borough councillor Chris Donnelly has shared residents’ frustrations with the material used for the surface of the entrance to Persimmon Homes development.

“It's paved in monoblocks, rather than tarmac, and it’s getting damaged every two to three years," he said.

"It's just rising every time after it's been relayed – at least twice since I've been here. People are quite frustrated."

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However, the developer Persimmon Homes said the block paving is done as part of the original planning agreement and it is working on submitting an amendment to use a harder-wearing road surface.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes South Coast said: “The block paving used at the entrance to the Picket Twenty community in Andover formed part of the original planning agreement and Hampshire County Council’s requirements for adoption.

“However, the blocks are less hardwearing than some alternative surfaces and we have carried out some repairs over time. We are due to complete further repairs over the Easter period at the entrance to the development. We have contacted residents to warn them of possible disruptions.

“Meanwhile, we continue to work with the county council on a proposal to submit an amendment to the planning requirements and allow us to use a harder-wearing road surface at this high-traffic area which will still meet their requirements for adoption.”

The blocks have started lifting up from the road surface at Picket Twenty entrance (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Donnelly said the regular repairs cause severe disruption to traffic around the area.

"When they close the road to relay it, it takes a couple of weeks and it's a huge disruption," he said.

“It forces everybody to go on to Whitchurch Road which is B3400 and then round the roundabout at Walworth. So when you think that there are around 1,000 houses, all these families are then reliant on one single entrance, which goes past a primary school.

“It’s not ideal for the rush hour. This is also a bus route, which is disrupted as well.”

Cllr Chris Donnelly's primary concern is the financial burden these repairs would place on taxpayers when Hampshire County Council adopts the road (Image: Newsquest)

The recurring damages have led the councillor to speak to Hampshire County Council to make amendments in the planning agreement before adopting the road.

"I'm going to go to the developer Persimmon and the council to say 'look, you can't just adopt this road’," he said.

His primary concern is the financial burden these repairs would place on taxpayers.

"Why would you adopt a road that's going to need repairs every couple of years? It's bad value for money," Cllr Donnelly said.

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He added: "I just genuinely would like to have the conversation with them (Persimmon). I know they have been out here to look at the condition of the road, but it'd be really helpful to know how we're going forward with that. I'm not trying to criticise them. I just would like to have a conversation to find a solution for residents.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said the authority is waiting for a revised proposal from the developer.

"It will likely be a change in the design from permeable paving to traditional road construction in those areas of the Picket Twenty estate that carry the highest amounts of traffic. The developer will also likely need to agree to changes with the local planning authority, which in this case would be Test Valley Borough Council. Until this has been completed, and there is confidence with the long-term resilience of the road surface, the County Council cannot proceed with adoption.”