*** ROAD CLOSURE/ONE WAY SYSTEM IN WHITEHILL & BORDON ***
Information provided by Hampshire County Council (HCC), to include works by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSE) from November 2022 and HCC work scheduled from December 2022.
Who can I contact about SSE works:
Peter Drackett
Tel: 077678 51535
Who can I contact about Arrival Square works
Hampshire County Council:
Email: whitehillandbordon@hants.gov.uk and quote ‘Arrival Square’ in the subject line. Please also copy in andy.tree@hants.gov.uk so Cllr Tree can be aware and chase up any reply.
Tel: 0300 555 1388
Comment from Andy Tree, as representative of Whitehill, Bordon & Lindford:
“I asked why SSE and HCC works could not happen at same time, but was told different contracts and liability and it would not be possible to combine, which is frustrating.
I was consulted on the 3 options for the HCC road closure, on basis it MUST happen before the new Morrisons can open, under EHDC planning permission, outside scope of my control. I wanted the least most inconvenient option, given how much of a pain this will be to us all, including me! The first option was to close the road completely. The second option was to have traffic lights both ways. Third option was a one-way system. I believe the third option is the least-worst! I also advised for any diverted traffic to be routed round the quickest route, or people would be frustrated and ignore official signs anyway. This allows a continuous flow of traffic. I wanted to give everyone the ‘heads-up’, hence this post.”
HCC officers will present this to the Town Council Executive Committee at 7pm on 10th Nov at Forest Community Centre, where our members can provide additional feedback to them. This is a public meeting that can also be attended by zoom and details can be requested from info@whitehilltowncouncil.gov.uk.
Summary of the Arrival Square Works: Where is Arrival Square?
• Arrival Square is the area at the top of Chalet Hill and includes the section of the High Street between the pedestrian crossing (outside Coral) and the roundabout at Budds Lane. Arrival Square Plan
What are the works that are happening?
• The existing carriageway between Chalet Hill and Budds Lane will be narrowed to 6 meters to allow for a new bus lay-by and realigned kerbing on the west verge (town centre side).
• Construction of a mini-roundabout to replace the existing traffic signal junction (this will mirror the mini-roundabout at the Budds Lane junction)
• Controlled Parallel crossings (similar to a zebra crossing but have allowance for cyclists) will be provided north of the Chalet Hill junction and South of the Budds Lane junction to enable safe crossing of pedestrians & cyclists from east to west.
• Traffic light controlled crossing south of Chalet Hill (similar location to existing crossing) to
provide safe access to the leisure centre, shed and new town centre.
• Improvements to the condition of the highway including street lighting, carriageway and footway surfacing and highway drainage.
Why are the works happening?
• The road works are a condition of the Planning Permission that was granted for the new town centre, none of the shops can be occupied until the highway improvement works are completed.
• It will also connect residents living in the existing housing development to the new town centre development.
• It will make it easier to access the new town centre for residents wishing to walk and cycle.
When are they happening?
• The Hampshire County Council works are anticipated to start on the Monday 5 December 2022 for approximately 6 months. HOWEVER, SSE will be working along the High Street from the 7 November until 4 December (approximately) to lay ducting in preparation for the High Volt Cable that is being laid throughout Bordon in 2023. The Hampshire County Council start date is dependent on the progress of the SSE works and discussion with the awarded contractor.
(SEE have stated: As part of our ongoing commitment to provide a quality service and improve supply reliability, we will be investing in the network in your area. Our works will commence on 7th November 2022 and be completed on the 5th December 2022. The route of works will incorporate Chalet Hill, The High Street and Budds Lane. Traffic management will be in place however, routes will remain open at all times for residents and businesses and access to properties will be maintained. We will do everything possible to ensure that we complete our works on schedule. However, we hope you will appreciate that site conditions may cause some adjustment to this plan and if this is the case, we will aim to let you know as soon as possible.”)
Why are SSE working before HCC?
• During 2023 SSE will be installing a new substation in Bordon and as part of this, SSE will need to lay High Volt cables to link the incoming route to the new sub station and the existing sub station. HCC have asked SSE to bring their works for the High Street forward to avoid SSE having to cause further disruption to residents and businesses later in 2023 in the same area and digging up the newly re-laid road surface.
What is the Traffic Management during the County Council’s element of the road works? And why?
• SSE will be working under temporary traffic lights and a lane closure.
• Hampshire County Council’s contractor will be working with a one way system and traffic will only be able to travel in a northbound direction (towards Farnham). All southbound traffic at the point of meeting the Budds Lane mini-roundabout will be diverted along Budds Lane, Havannah Way, to the A325 Relief Road and coming back into Bordon through Whitehill. The diversion route is shown on map 1 at the bottom.
• Managing the Hampshire County Council works under a one way system, aims to minimise disruption but still allows a safe working environment for the contractors.
• The option for a full closure was considered because it is the safest and most practical work environment, however it would potentially cause additional disruption and inconvenience to local residents and businesses. Therefore, a decision was made to minimise the disruption. and have a full lane closure with traffic only allowed to travel through the site in a north bound direction
(towards Farnham).
Who can I contact about SSE works:
Peter Drackett
Tel: 077678 51535
Who can I contact about Arrival Square works
Hampshire County Council:
Email: whitehillandbordon@hants.gov.uk and quote ‘Arrival Square’ in the subject line. Please also copy in andy.tree@hants.gov.uk so Cllr Tree can be aware and chase up any reply.
Tel: 0300 555 1388
