Stopping up of Western Avenue and West Street - Valid Objections

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• Test Valley are proposing to create a ‘riverside park’ from Bridge Street part of the way to the Folly Roundabout

 

• As part of this plan, they want to block the eastern (southbound) half of Western Avenue

 

• They also intend to make West Street a two-way road and block it at the bus station so all traffic would be forced to make a U turn and come back along West Street instead of entering the road network at the bus station

 

• Effects of proposals, in case you were not fully aware of these:

 

• 1) vast increase in vehicle numbers using West Street Lidl lorries and Lidl shoppers will have to enter the Lidl car park opposite Chantry Lodge and exit by the bus station turning left back along West Street instead of exiting onto Western Avenue.

• 2) buses will have to turn in the bus station and return via West Street doubling the bus movements in West Street

• 3) delivery lorries to Waitrose and Chantry Centre shops doubling the HGV movements in West Street

• 4) increased noise in Chantry Lodge

• 5) increased air pollution in Chantry Lodge

• 6) road safety compromised

• 7) College students and less mobile pedestrians put at risk

• 8) makes life harder for schools using Leisure Centre

 

• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

 

• Test Valley and/or Hampshire County Council are required to apply to the Secretary of State for an Order stopping up the highway, the Order will appear in the Andover advertiser on Friday 21 November

• There is a 28 day period in which objections to the Order can be made which expires at MIDNIGHT ON 19 DECEMBER

• The basis on which valid objections can be made is set out in the Act

• The grounds to object are:

  • that the Order is not necessary for the planning permission to be carried out

  • that what is proposed is excessive

  • that some other arrangement would work instead

  • that the scheme is harmful in some way

  • eg, harms the environment, creates a road safety hazard,

 

If there are objections and these are not withdrawn a public inquiry must be held, unless someone (Test Valley or HCC) can persuade the Secretary of State that no inquiry is required which means when we do object, that issue needs to be dealt with.

 

When objecting it is necessary to demonstrate that you are affected by the proposal.

 

A suggested list of valid objections is on the next page.

STOPPING UP OF WESTERN AVENUE AND WEST STREET FOR RIVERSIDE PARK

 

Objections must go by email to:   nationalcasework@dft.gov.uk BEFORE 19 DECEMBER

Quoting Ref: NATTRAN/SE/S247/6126

Addressed to: Mr N Crass,

 

The subject line for the email is: 

Stopping up Order A3057 Western Avenue and West Street, Andover, Test Valley Borough Ref: NATTRAN/SE/S247/6126

 

You need to provide your name and address.

PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN ALL OBJECTIONS:

I am affected by the proposed Stopping Up Order by Test Valley Borough Council and object on the following grounds:

PLEASE CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING, USING YOUR OWN WORDS

 

West Street

1) the stopping up is not necessary to enable the development of the riverside park to be carried out.

An alternative scheme retaining one way traffic in West Street at a lower cost is available.

 

2) Improvement to amenity could be attained in other ways at lower cost and in particular by retaining the one way traffic layout in West Street.

 

3) Residents amenity, the scheme and in particular the proposed increase in traffic movements in West Street will have a detrimental effect on the living conditions of Chantry Lodge and other local residents justifying a refusal of the Order.

 

4) Highway Safety, making West Street two way cannot be considered to contribute to highway safety. The proposed reduction in width of the pavement alongside the Leisure Centre & Chantry Lodge increases the risks to pedestrians.

 

5) Highway safety, vehicles exiting West Street car park (Leisure Centre car park) would have to turn right into two way traffic

 

6) Increased Noise and traffic movements.

 

7) Increased atmospheric pollution, Test Valley Borough Council claim that any impact is marginal, we doubt this as the major source of harmful atmospheric particulates is diesel emissions and the proposed vast increase in vehicle movements in West Street can only be harmful.

 

8) Increased traffic congestion in the area.

 

Western Avenue – Stopping Up – Objections to the removal on one half of the dual carriageway

 

1) Community safety, the loss of 50% of the carrying capacity of Western Avenue.

 

2) The government requirement of 15,000 extra houses in Test Valley will increase traffic on the dual carriageway and has not been taken into account.

 

3) If half of the carriageway were removed this would create a potential for accidents and congestion.

 

4) The proposal prevents the stopping off of buses coaches and cars in West Street taking people to and from the Leisure Centre, College, Chantry Centre and the bus station.  School buses for the Leisure Centre will be expected to use the bus lay-by in Western Avenue (as well as the buses) and teachers must muster children at the roadside before taking them across the river to the Leisure Centre.  This will also involve negotiating the unfenced pond area adjacent to the Leisure Centre and the Magistrates Court, this area is subject to flooding.

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Click here for Stopping Up Plan 

Click here for West Street One Way Retention Plan

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