Lynchford Road widening “No solution to our traffic problems”

Hampshire County Council recently held a public consultation on its controversial proposal to turn most of Lynchford Road, connecting the A331 Blackwater Valley Route and the A325 Farnborough Road, into a dual carriageway to take the traffic created by the airport and exhibition centre. Local developers will contribute over £2 million towards the Council's scheme.

It's attracted extensive criticism from local shops and residents including the recently formed North Camp Support Group.

While local Conservative councillors have supported the plan, local Liberal Democrats have spoken out about the impact it will have on pupils crossing to Wavell School, on local shops and to pedestrians crossing Lynchford Road to the village centre.

Quizzed about his views on Hampshire proposals for Lynchford Road (also referred to as the Farnborough Growth Package), local St. Mark's Liberal Democrat Councillor Abul Koher Chowdhury said "We have problems with traffic on Lynchford Road but the Council's current scheme is not the right answer"

"It makes no attempt to provide a safer route for children crossing Wavell School. There is no safe pedestrian route from the Napier Gardens car park to Wavell or to the local shops. It's still a nightmare for pedestrians and cyclists trying to get across the St. Alban's roundabout."

Council refuses to listen to alternative schemes

"Local Liberal Democrats have proposed environmentally friendly schemes which would reduce the volumes of through traffic on the Lynchford Road, without having a negative impact on North Camp village. But Hampshire County Council refuses to listen."

Cllr Chowdhury said "They're absolutely wedded to making Lynchford Road a dual carriageway, irrespective of how it affects our local community. But there are much better alternatives."

"The local Conservatives want to press ahead to approve this flawed scheme in January despite the overwhelming concerns of local people."

North camp village suffers - again

"It's the wealth of small independent shops that give North Camp Village its unique character. And they only survive because there's easy local parking.

This scheme does nothing to support our local village. We really value North Camp. The Conservatives clearly know the cost of everything and the value of nothing."

Council ignore environmental impacts

"Lots of people locally are concerned about the noise and air pollution from the Lynchford Road widening.

Rushmoor Council has closed its eyes to the environmental problem and denied us an assessment of the problem.

Liberal Democrats are pressing the Council to have an environmental impact assessment carried out.

We deserve to know how much extra pollution this scheme will bring to our village."

Abul said "I frankly think we should send these proposals back to the County Council engineers to come up with a better solution."