Councillor questions funding for £5.5m Winchester junction

County councillor Jackie Porter (Itchen Valley) said she was unconvinced the authority had a realistic funding plan for the proposed upgrade of the Cart and Horses junction, which aims to improve safety at the busy A33 and B3047 crossroads.

The improvement scheme has been under discussion for several years.

However, Hampshire County Council says it remains unfunded after the government approved the M3 Junction 9 project without requiring improvements at Cart and Horses.

During the universal services decision day meeting on October 19, Cllr Porter said figures presented by council officers left her unclear about how the scheme would ultimately be financed.

She said: "I can't tell from the figures how those lists are accumulated or decided and what bits are the SIL money and whether that's being kept back."

Cllr Porter referred to figures showing a significant proportion of spending falling in future years, including more than £3 million in 2028/29, but questioned where that funding would come from.

She added: "Where on earth do we find £3 million from? This seems completely unrealistic."

Cllr Porter also challenged the proposed timetable for the scheme, arguing that delaying improvements until after 2028 made little sense given progress being made on the M3 Junction 9 works.

She described such an approach as "unrealistic" and "almost irresponsible".

Her concerns extended beyond the overall cost of the project to the potential source of any funding gap.

Referring to the proposed West Farm Popham development, Cllr Porter said correspondence she had seen suggested discussions had taken place between Hampshire County Council and the developer about the junction scheme.

"I believe you do have a plan but you're not making it public," she told the meeting.

According to her, the developer's response appeared to suggest Hampshire County Council viewed the development as possible way of addressing a funding shortfall linked to the junction improvements.

She added: "I wanted to know what has happened in that conversation between West Farm Popham developers and Hampshire County Council.

"Residents and I would be horrified if Hampshire County Council is saying yes to the Popham development so they will foot the bill to cover the shortfall."

Responding at the meeting, the council's cabinet member for universal services, Cllr Kirsty North, said she was unable to answer the detailed questions during the session but proposed a further meeting to discuss the matter in more detail.

Hampshire County Council has been approached for comment on the concerns raised by Cllr Porter.