Dispute over diversion of Andover Road through Kings Barton estate

Mike Slinn, vice chairman of Kings Barton Residents Association (KBRA), was sparked to reply after city council leader Martin Tod said it would be an "act of insanity" to retain both Andover Road and the new Winchester Avenue as through routes into the city centre.

Residents of Kings Barton are campaigning for the proposed closure of Andover Road, agreed in 2011, to be reversed.

READ MORE HERE: 'Act of insanity' to keep major road open - city council leader Martin Tod

Mr Slinn wrote to Cllr Tod: "You suggest that keeping Andover Road open will double the road capacity into the City from North Winchester. Winchester Avenue, with its many service roads, junctions and crossing points and lower design speed and its local centre, will not have the same high road capacity as does the free-flowing section of Andover Road adjacent to the MDA (Kings Barton).

Campaigning: Mike Slinn (left) with Nigel Palmer on Winchester High Street in July

"But, far more importantly, the impact of having both this section of Andover Road open as well as Winchester Avenue will not result in any increase in the overall road capacity.

"This is because the road capacity into the City from North Winchester is controlled by the combined capacities of the Andover Road and Stockbridge Road approaches to the Carfax signalised junction with City Road, Sussex Street and Station Approach. These two approaches are, from observation, working at capacity during peak traffic periods resulting in long traffic queues on both Andover Road and Stockbridge Road.
SEE ALSO: Campaign to stop diversion of Andover Road through Kings Barton estate

"Moreover, as many residents from Harestock and Weeke have pointed out, if the section of Andover Road adjacent to the MDA is closed then traffic heading for the city centre from North Winchester will force its way through Harestock and Weeke residential areas to join Stockbridge Road or to rejoin Andover Road at the Stoney Lane or Bereweeke Road junctions.

Addressing Andover Road, Mr Slinn said the reasons why KBRA campaigned for a signalised pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the Ridgeway and Halls Farm Close were:

-  Because the road speed limit is 50mph which is too fast for pedestrians to  cross the road carriageway safely and

-  Our fears for students from Kings Barton and elsewhere crossing Andover Road to reach Henry Beaufort School and for children crossing from Harestock to reach Barton Farm Primary School.

"We are grateful that the County Council accepted our reasoning and are now building the crossing. When completed, there will be signalised pedestrian crossings on Andover Road at this critical point close to these two schools as well as at Andover Road’s junctions with Manley Road and Winchester Avenue. We do not then understand what are the major severance issues on Andover Road or the barriers to movement from schools, community and commercial facilities that you mention."

On cycling and walking, Mr Slinn added: "There is no good reason to believe that keeping Andover Road open will cut walking and cycling routes dramatically. Right now, pedestrians and cyclists use the route between the east side of Andover Road carriageway and the MDA. And there is space available to improve this route to the same standard as in the current permitted plan. "

He said that far more important than this route for Kings Barton residents will be the routes within the development and between the development and the city centre. KBRA Committee have proposed to HCC and WCC that the MDA become a Low Traffic Neighbourhood with a 20mph speed limit to encourage safe walking and cycling and have identified walking and cycling improvements between the MDA and the City Centre. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these proposals with you and with HCC.

Meanwhile, Cllr Tod has written to county councillor Edward Heron, executive lead member for transport and environment strategy, saying: "As promised, I wanted to write to outline the City Council’s concerns about the road system to the north of Winchester, confirm that we are willing to collaborate with you and Cala on finding solutions and our thoughts on the most effective model for public engagement.

"In essence, we are concerned that there is not an agreed and coherent proposal for the road system in north Winchester – not just regarding public concerns about the diversion of Andover Road – but the design of Winchester Avenue, Andover Road (especially if undiverted), Priors Dean Road and Worthy Road – and how they relate both to current traffic flows and mitigate and manage the impact of new development at St John Moore Barracks and a potential north Park and Ride."