Totton residents oppose e-bike location plans near homes

Alison Morgan is campaigning for Hampshire County Council to find a better location for the dock ahead of the scheme's rollout.

She says that siting the dock in a residential area, at the junction of Stonechat Drive and Chaffinch Close in Totton, raises concerns over privacy, suitability and safety.

She has been calling on her neighbours to write to the council against the location.

Alison said: "The first we knew about it was when the notice went up.

"We are not against the scheme, but it needs to be sensible."

READ MORE: Voi e-bikes to come to Totton and Gosport after green light

The pavement at the junction of Stonechat Drive and Chaffinch Close where the bikes would be parked (Image: Cristiano Magaglio) It comes as the county council consults on the planned location of e-bike docks in Totton and Gosport ahead of operator Voi rolling out the scheme in those towns.

But Alison says the primary issue with the Stonechat Drive and Chaffinch Close dock is the proximity to private homes, which residents believe could infringe on their privacy and potentially lower property values.

The junction itself has also been labelled as hazardous, with Alison describing it as a "very blind bend" where drivers often struggle to stay on the correct side of the road.

She says placing e-bikes here would only increase the risk of accidents.

Alison, whose home neighbours the dock, believes that the noise and disturbance caused by users and Voi maintenance teams will be disruptive to residents.

Another resident, Val Alford, said: "Surely these pavements are for pedestrians, not for a load of bikes.

"There is not a day that goes by that you don't hear screeching or beeping because two cars nearly collided with each other here.

"There are cycle lanes all around the back of the states, why don't they put them there out of the way.

"It just doesn't make any sense. 

"[It is] total disregard for people's privacy. The main thing is the safety of it. It is totally ridiculous."

READ MORE: City council is 'not out of the woods yet'

Alison and Val are calling for e-bike sites to be placed in more appropriate locations, such as Hanger Farm, Morrisons, and West Totton precinct, where they believe the bikes would be more frequently used.

They are urging those who agree with them to write to the council (Capital.Delivery@hants.gov.uk) with their concerns, quoting reference TO039, before the deadline on September 1.

This comes as Voi received the green light to deploy about 100 e-bikes across various spots in Totton and Gosport by autumn.