A BASINGSTOKE county councillor has raised concerns about safety on Beggarwood Lane. 

Cllr Stephen Reid has said that following considerable changes in the area within the past few years, including new housing developments, the completion of the Holly Blue pub and Dashwood Manor Care Home, there has been the removal of some of the road traffic measures on the busy route. 

The councillor has written to the officer responsible for roads in the Basingstoke area at Hampshire County Council calling for something to be done. 

Cllr Reid said: "In recent years changes have been made to Beggarwood Lane near its junction with the A30. The most notable of these is that a ‘build out’ traffic calming measure was removed, and significant access was built to service the Holly Blue public house and housing facilities for the elderly, with a neuro care facility currently under construction and children’s nursery expected to follow.

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"I have become aware of reports that the road is being used irresponsibly, with speeding cars coming too fast off the A30 past the entrance to the above facilities.

"There is also some evidence of the road being misused during ‘car meets’. Also, with an increasing trend for people to park in the Holly Blue and cross the road to walk in Beggarwood Park before returning for refreshments, there is increased pedestrian traffic, meaning traffic and pedestrian usage has increased, whilst traffic calming has reduced."

Cllr Reid asked whether anything could be done to slow traffic in the area, adding that vehicles travelling too fast could hit pedestrians on the bend of the road, or a vehicle entering or exiting the Island Site.

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Cllr Reid continued: "Elsewhere in the area we have ‘pinch points’ on the safer routes to school that narrow the roads and require greater attention from motorists, as well as making it safer to cross.

"Might central bollards help? Or even a crossing of some sort if traffic volumes justify this? The danger area is the stretch of road from the Holly Blue to the Co-op, and that includes the junction to new homes in Blue Hut Way."

Cllr Reid added he had offered to meet the county officer on site to discuss the matter further.