As you know, the A33 crossings are a real concern to me, and fellow councillors in the Worthys.
We have have been campaigning and working for a long time on this issue, resulting in a sum coming forward for works in 2014-15.

However, whilst dramatic events that have happened are investigated, I still have questions that remain unanswered- and we need these answers to enable local residents and councillors to make decisions about the offers on the table.

I have written to the Executive Member at the County Council to ask for the answers so we can ensure that what is done here is a good use of our Council Tax and tackles the problems you say you have here.

This is my letter….

The A33- safer crossings for pedestrians and safer travelling for drivers in this area.

You will be well aware of the recent accidents on the A33 and will have been made aware of the ongoing work that HCC has already been doing to look at the feasibility of low cost improvements there too.

Studying this junction was already in the work programme:
October 2012: Site visit by Gavin Bourn, working on behalf of HCC
April/May 2013 : First feasibility report presented to Councillor and thus shown to the two Parish Councils adjoining the site. Karen Wright explained that post-election we would take this further, and if generally accepted, these plans would be worked up fully, and executed by HCC in 2014-15.
May 2013(following election, now out of purdah): Formal consideration of plans by KW Parish Council, and comments invited of Itchen Valley Parish Council.

Although the general principle of the needs at all three points was noted, there were a number of matters raised about the design at that meeting:
• More needed in the design in the context of poor visibility by drivers turning right, of vehicles approaching from the north at the Cart and Horses /A33 junction,
• The lack of a turn right plan from the B3047
• the potential loss of a slip road at Lovedon Lane
• the continued high speeds of through traffic
• the use of Park Lane, and Lovedon Lane as a way to avoid the junction
• there was a limited sum available and it as felt to be inadequate at this time.

Actually coming away from the meeting, other Councillors at the meeting and I witnessed the first accident which required several emergency vehicles, and both Steve Brine and I called for a review of the position.

The conversations with officers and letter recently written to me by the department describe the likely funding needed for a major works scheme there to be in the region of £3 million.

This is a huge increase from the original estimate of around £400K suggested as the original cost of measures here (and in fact a contribution of around £200K was ‘allocated from Barton Farm funds’ as a result of that estimate).When we worked with Steve Jenkins to look at the S106 required from Barton Farm, I believe that he created a package of around £10million for highways- in the email to me, this is now described as £1m!That’s not much to go around the whole of North Winchester!
By only going for a scheme of this size, are we risking doing nothing at all? I do hope not!

It is difficult as a councillor to counteract the high costing figures for this junction- but I am at a disadvantage when considering the options if I cannot get the facts.
The problems on this stretch of road are described in the feasibility report. The A33 junction, I believe you have seen for yourself.

Just north, there is another junction. Residents, the MP and I have concerns about this one too. These concerns have already been acknowledged by HCC. Pedestrians from this area find it very difficult to cross here to go to the school, the frequent bus services, the Post office and the park: that is why HCC agreed to include this in the feasibility report. The problem here for pedestrians does not go away if the ‘Cart and Horses junction’ is solved.

But returning to the Cart and Horses/B3047/A33 junction.
I acknowledge that there may be ‘more deserving cases’ in accident terms, but believe that the reasons to upgrade it are more than just on safety grounds.

1. Congestion: Traffic builds up here at peak times- there are frequently traffic queues back into Winchester in the mornings and evenings, and along the B3047 junction in the mornings.
This will get worse with the increase in traffic from the Abbots Barton development, the proposed Francis Gardens and council housing developments, and most dramatically, the Barton Farm development.
Drivers use this junction to avoid the M3 junction 9, and the town centre.
That is why an Barton Farm S106 sum was agreed for the highways north of Winchester.
2. Looking at the accident record, it is true that accidents are slight, but they are frequent: the accident requiring several emergency vehicles in May was followed by one in June; there is another accident recorded here on Crime Alert Report on 26/7/13.
3. The cost to the local economy must be great as the emergency services are called there, and include the disruption from drivers’ damaged vehicles.
4. There is pressure on the Park Lane junction and Lovedon Lane junctions as drivers use these alternative routes to avoid the perceived danger of this junction, especially to turn right.

As the County Councillor who in 2008-2009, asked the Director for 10 % of all highway contributions from developments in this area to be ‘cached’ towards the improvement in this area, and fought very hard for a sum to be allotted from the S106 for Barton Farm, I am saddened to think that this has not been done.

I would very much like to know :
• Exactly what are the sums available for the work in this area,
• Could the Barton Farm sums be used for this site now, and
• What effect any future work might have on any pedestrian improvements which were already planned at the footpath and at the Lovedon Lane junction.
• Whether a temporary speed limit reduction to 40mph could be placed here whilst the review is ongoing.

When we know this, we can then work with the County Council to find a solution that is cost effective, and gives HCC the credibility to the local residents and Council Tax payers who use the roads in this area.
I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely,

Jackie Porter

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