Works in Romsey will last for another week

An unexpected drainage problem has delayed the reopening of Church Street in Romsey which is currently undergoing a major facelift.

Some traders claim their businesses have been hit in the pocket by the 14-week road closure while a £500,000 scheme to make the street more pedestrian-friendly has been done.

But now, the contractors Colas say the street linking the Market Place with Cherville Street will not fully reopen until next Friday. (Nov 20) Apologising for the delay, Colas spokesperson Linzi Stean said: "Upon inspection, it has been identified that some additional works must be carried out to the channels at the Market Place end of Church Street, in order to create a natural fall of surface water. We must ensure that this piece of work in completed in order to mitigate the risks of ponding on the footway. We will complete the works as part of the existing schemes so that further road closures are not required at a later date."

Miss Stean added: "We will again make every effort to complete these additional works works as quickly as possible, and if possible, earlier than anticipated."

Manager of Oasis Christian Centre Angie Nelson, said sales are down since the road closure. "The work has affected our footfall but we have just had to ride it out and hopefully claw back some of our losses. Hopefully during the Christmas period. A lot of elderly people get dropped off outside and come into the shop but they have not been able to do that with the road closed," said Mrs Nelson.

Debbie Clemett who runs Kit and Caboodle children's boutique said she is hopeful that once the road reopens shoppers will flock back into Church Street.

"It's looking good and hopefully the improvements might encourage more people to walk down and browse in the shops. I suppose some people might have been put off coming to Church Street when dust was being blown about but as an established shop we were not too affected," said Mrs Clemett.

However there are some concern about pedestrians' safety with the new road layout. "We have a few concerns about safety with the shared surface because when the road was opened temporarily on Saturday, people were stood in the middle of the road talking with cars coming towards them. People need to be aware there is two-way traffic and it is not a pedestrianised area, " said Mrs Veronica Ewall from Offord and Sons jewellers.

Church Street’s new-look includes a buff-coloured shared surface for motorists and pedestrians and the installation of pinch points at the junction with the Market Place and outside the borough council’s offices just north of the junction of Church Place. Existing footways in Church Street have been widened and kerbing embedded into the road surface and this is aimed at separating vehicles from pedestrians.

Yellowstone kerbing has been used in pedestrian areas and new seating is being installed. All the work has been designed to match existing town centre street furniture. A barrier has yet to be installed where Abbey Walk meets Church Street to prevent children in particular from running straight out into the road from the small shopping area.

The improvements are the first phase of a multi-million pound scheme to enhance three town centre streets and highway chiefs at Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council are behind the project.

Romsey resident retired businessman Ian Bullivant said the enhancement work is good news for Romsey. "I am delighted with it. I think this will be a real success for the town. I think that once it is all finished shopkeepers will be thrilled with it. Hopefully it will make the town more vibrant," said 71-year-old Ian.

Romsey's county councillor Mark Cooper said he's pleased with the work.

"The result certainly matches my personal vision for the area which I first mooted in 1997. The palate of materials links the facade of the Post Office, with its flint panels, to the former Magistrates Court with it's dark buff brick and then to the Abbey. A piazza has been created where the pedestrian owns the space. There is a strong sense of visual unity.

If the scheme works in practice, and it can be tweaked if necessary, we will extend the format to the whole of Bell Street and later the Market Place," said Mr Cooper.

Pointing out that consultation will soon begin on enhancing Bell Street, Hampshire's leader Roy Perry said: "Making town centres really attractive places for locals and visitors will be key to the commercial success of town centres in the future.

Hampshire County Council did a great job for Winchester and I am keen as leader to see other town centres such as Romsey benefit as well."