A long-running fear about polluted water coming off the M27 and draining into the Hamble River is no closer to being resolved.

There have been concerns for years about water running off the motorway bridge straight into the river.

The fear is that a petrol or diesel spill from an accident could lead to a environmentally devastating incident.

There had been hopes that the Smart motorway works on the M27 would include some changes – but these proved unfounded, and so Hampshire County Council has continued to lobby National Highways for action.

At a River Hamble management committee on Friday, March 10, Cllr Rod Cooper proposed to send a joint letter to the Environment Agency to put the situation forward and express county’s concern and disappointment about the M27 drainage problem since ‘it has been a while since we have seen lobbying in that regard’.

"We are 20 years down the road, certainly in the M27 bridge, in a position that’s no further forward," he said.

The environment and development manager of River Hamble, Alison Fowler, said that a few months ago Hamble Harbour sent a letter to National Highways about the status of the feasibility study.

"We were informed that the study is undertaking and is due to and done by the end of this financial year, and it is imminent," she said.

On January 2022, Baroness Charlotte Vere of Norbiton, under-secretary of state in the Department for Transport (DfT), responded to Cllr Sean Woodward’s letter in which she confirmed that the drainage work would take place but wouldn’t be completed until 2025.

She said: "I understand that National Highways attempted to develop a solution to the drainage issue at Hamble Bridge, but that this, unfortunately, could not be incorporated as part of the current M27 junctions 4-11 smart motorway scheme.

"However, National Highways’ Designated Funds programme has a scheme for the Hamble Bridge planned for feasibility in 2022/23, design in 2023/24 and construction in 2024/25, subject to securing approval of funding for each stage.

"National Highways will engage with Hampshire County Council during the fund scheme development, and scheme works information will be provided to all appropriate authorities."

The River Hamble marine director, Jason Scott, reminded the board that a few letters were sent, including the one that Cllr Keith Evans wrote to National Highways ‘on behalf of the harbour authority to express its ongoing concern’.

Cllr Rod Cooper said: "My thought is, once when the study is back, without further references back to this committee, to once again respond to the feasibility study, putting pressure on, and asking when we can expect any improvements for the actual proposal to be put in place for that motorway bridge especially."

Mr Scott said: "The moment we get any feedback for the feasibility study, negative if it is, we would come back to you as quickly as possible afterwards because this is going on far too long."