Basingstoke - New Tesco Store Plan - Major Obsticle identified

Tesco's proposals to improve traffic flows, caused by the proposed new store on the ex-Smiths Industries site off Winchester Road, have received a major setback from Hampshire County Highways planners.

"At a recent meeting County Council highway officers raised several issues with Tesco's highway consultants", reports county Councillor Brian Gurden.

County officers are particularly concerned with road safety due to the reduced lane widths Tesco proposes to "squeeze in" three lanes of traffic. At Brighton Hill roundabout restricting lanes to specific traffic routes (similar to Eastrop roundabout) will increase queue lengths.

The maximum traffic flow rates used are unlikely to be achieved in practice. Queues will therefore be longer than those assumed by Tesco at both Winchester Road and Brighton Hill roundabouts.

County Highways officers also have concerns about the proposed mini roundabout at Lister Road/ The Harrow Way and pedestrian safety.

Basically County officers believe that Tesco's computer model of the local road network is based on some false assumptions and their proposals are therefore flawed. County officers consider the plans unrealistic and inadequate as they stand and Tesco's highway consultants have been told that they need to amend their computer model and revise their proposed road changes.

"Tesco needs to come up with a much more robust set of proposals," said Councillor Brian Gurden. "Their current proposals will make traffic flows worse and compromise road safety. That is not acceptable."

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County Councillor Brian Gurden