A NEW 'Crosfield Hall' closer to the town centre. Cottages or a hotel on the former Edwina Mountbatten House site. A two-storey car park to replace the current hall. 

These are just some of the ideas from the Romsey and District Society as an alternative plan for the south of the town centre. 

The south of town centre masterplan has been consulted on for several years and led by Romsey Future, which is a strand of Test Valley Borough Council. 

The masterplan includes the controversial proposal to move the Crosfield Hall out to the Romsey Rapids site and the redevelopment of the bus station. A new citizens' assembly has been taking place, five years after the last one in 2019. 

Neill Beasley's alternative approach was recently published in the Romsey and District Society's magazine. Mr Beasley, a founding member of the society and former architect, wants a cultural hub in the centre of the town.

Romsey and District Society's alternative suggestion (Image: Contributed)

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He said: “The bus station and adjoining car park site has the potential to create a new Crosfield Hall in the town centre as part of a generous landscaped public space. I think the town needs a pedestrian-friendly, traffic-free and attractive civic square.

“With creative thinking, the space could become a true social generator in the centre of town. A location for linking the Hundred with Dukes Mill, for holding outdoor events, specialist markets, social gathering, public art, etc all linked with the hall providing associated facilities in a building that is open every day.”

The plan includes the former Edwina Mountbatten House site, however Test Valley Borough Council recently withdrew its opposition to Churchill Retirement Living's appeal for 47 flats. 

Mr Beasley added: “Romsey has no central open space that is not affected by traffic. I want the new Crosfield Hall to have a public gallery, a meeting place, you could have concerts out there and sculpture displays. 

Romsey and District Society magazine editor David Robinson and Neill Beasley (Image: Newsquest)

“Imagination is lacking somewhere along the line. The Market Place is now a traffic hub more than anything else. Our idea would create more activity and an improvement at Dukes Mill. 

“We don't want to deny the town a centre, we don't need any more shops. It has occurred to me by having a limited number of shops, we will have a limited number of empty shops. That would encourage the town to always go for something decent. 

“Waterstones is such a bonus, that is a highly-respected, educational shop. It's not trashy. I'd like Romsey to be niche, a bit like Alresford. We don't want to lose what we've got, we want a community and we're in danger of fragmenting that community if we don't concentrate on the centre.”

For more details about the Romsey and District Society, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, visit romseydistrictsociety.co.uk.