HAMPSHIRE civic chiefs say they can do nothing to stop the diversion of Andover Road through Kings Barton.

The county council has no legal power to prevent the change as it has planning permission.

The major route is set to be diverted into the new estate once 650 homes are completed. The diversion was included in the approval for the 2,000-home estate more than ten years ago.

Campaigners have been attempting to stop the diversion and a petition last year attracted 3,000 signatures.

The Chronicle has recently reported that many new householders on the estate are unaware of the diversion.

READ MORE HERE: Public support to stop diversion of Andover Road through new estate

Council leader Rob Humby is holding a decision day today and a report to him states: "That the Leader and Executive Member for Hampshire 2050 and Corporate Services notes that the County Council as Highway Authority is not lawfully empowered to meet this request (to stop the diversion) and that any change to the planning permission can only be achieved through a full planning application from the developer CALA Homes to the Local Planning Authority."

The current planning approval has only buses from the proposed northern park and ride continuing to use Andover Road as well as cyclists, pedestrians and people who live on Andover Road and need access to their homes.

Hampshire County Council is discussing detailed design issues with CALA Homes and its designer, to ensure that the highway will be fit for purpose as far as reasonably practicable within the constraints of the approved planning position.

A technical study by WSP transport planning consultants was commissioned by the County Council to inform its Andover Road corridor strategy and plan.

SEE MORE: Most residents of Kings Barton unaware of diversion of major road past their homes

Cllr Jackie Porter, county councillor for almost all the Kings Barton estate, will be asking for the unpublished technical study into the issue to be presented in the meeting and commented: "If the county council won’t back an alternative scheme, it’s not going to happen. People have a right to know why.

"Residents of Kings Barton deserve to be told what’s in the WSP technical study and the basis of the county council’s decision.

"Whatever gets decided on Thursday doesn’t get us away from the awful state of the roads on the estate. More than 10 years after the plan was agreed,CALA and Hampshire need to finally agree how they’re going to sort out the roads, cycle ways and walking routes across the whole area."

The next meeting of the Kings Barton Forum, a city council committee, will be on Tuesday March 14.