Residents urged to respond to Waterside railway consultation

RESIDENTS have been urged by a senior New Forest councillor to make their views known about plans to reopen passenger services on the Waterside railway as the consultation enters its last week.

People have until Friday 9th September to comment and Cllr Edward Heron, who is Hampshire County Council's transport chief, is encouraging people to take part.

As reported in the A&T, Network Rail is running a month-long consultation in to the reopening of the nine-mile branch line, which includes reopening Marchwood station and building a brand new one at Hythe.

The line was closed to passengers in 1966, with only freight trains continuing until 2016 transporting crude oil to Fawley oil refinery.

There is now a battle between those backing the idea as a green way of easing congestion, and opponents who say it will undermine other public transport routes.

Cllr Heron, who is HCC's cabinet member for transport and environment strategy, is also the Conservative leader of New Forest District Council.

He said: "It is good to see proposals emerging for passenger services and for members of the public and communities to have an opportunity to give their views.

"There are a number of developments taking place or being planned along the Waterside.

"With the added potential of the area receiving official Freeport status, there are also housing and employment growth opportunities of national significance."

He added: "Progressing transport infrastructure improvements, in association with the investments we are already making in walking, cycling and bus infrastructure, and the major maintenance scheme on Redbridge Causeway are essential if we are to address the impacts of development and it is important for local residents’ views to be heard through this consultation."

Backing the scheme is Liberal Democrat Cllr Mark Clark, NFDC member for Furzedown & Hardley, who said there was an "overwhelming reaction" locally in favour.

He added: "Now, with a little over two weeks of the consultation to run, it’s vitally important that people make their voices heard.”

But opponent Cllr Sue Bennison, district councillor for Marchwood, urged residents, particularly those living close to the railway, to register their concerns.

She said: "I am concerned that the Main Road level crossing will suffer the same consequences as Junction Road in Totton, as there could be as many as 68 level crossing closures every day.

"Down time [at the gates] could be more than five minutes at Marchwood. At school drop-off and pick-up times this typically means about 25 cars will be held up in each direction, backing up to Twiggs Lane.

"There will dozens of mums, buggies, siblings, dogs etc waiting to cross, probably spilling into the road amongst drivers, frustrated and angered by the delay."

Cllr Bennison said the village station was small, so parking on adjacent roads was "inevitable".

She added: "The service is not worth the money [and] passenger forecasts were exaggerated by including Totton residents, effectively doubling the passenger catchment. Totton already has their own rail station and comprehensive bus services into Southampton.

"Costs are understated, omitting the need to replace 100% of the 100-year-old-plus track to accommodate the higher speeds required.

"This is a terrible investment for the taxpayer, with massive costs and forecasts to need huge ongoing subsidies, just to propel a lot of empty trains up and down the Waterside creating congestion, delay and hazard on our local road system."

Visit www.networkrail.co.uk/watersideline