THE impact on road safety and flooding of large-scale development at Cadnam Farm on Upper Anstey Lane, Alton, has led to a call to residents to make sure you “have your say” before any further decisions are made by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) planners on major issues concerning the site.

Outline permission was granted in May last year for the construction of up to 275 dwellings on land at Cadnam Farm, a site which is due to be developed in two parts – by Persimmon to the east and Martin Grant Homes to the west.

Now both applicants have come back to determine reserved matters and Alton Eastbrooke and Wootey’s Residents’ Association is urging everyone who will be directly affected by this major development to look in particular at road safety on Anstey Lane and localised flooding that spreads onto the neighbouring Wootey estate.

It is also seeking support for a ‘Clean for the Queen’ litter pick, scheduled for March 5.

So concerned are some people over the impact of additional traffic from Cadnam Farm using Anstey Lane to access the town and A31 that they have braved the February gales to leaflet householders to alert them to these concerns.

Mum-of-three George Longland, who joined her children in delivering their doorstep message, said: “Many have terrible horror stories about near-misses, bumps, clips, crashes, and an increased level of worry about stepping out of their very front door.”

She added: “One of our main areas of concern is the already severe traffic conditions (along Anstey Lane), which will be exacerbated by the new development.

“With little attention paid to the main route to the site we are going to campaign for a traffic study to be carried out by Hampshire County Council Highways, with the ultimate aim (to be informed by the study) being the introduction of a couple of safe crossings on Anstey Lane. This will, hopefully, go some way to easing the safety concerns for the hundreds of families crossing for school runs, older residents, and everyone in between.”

Mrs Longland wants the study to consist of multiple site visits at varying times and days over a specific and prolonged period of time in order to gauge the full extent of the challenges faced by residents and users of Anstey Lane and the surrounding roads.

There is anxiety too over flooding which is a regular occurrence that raised its head again this summer as water ran off the fields and down Upper Anstey Lane in a torrent, causing localised flooding, spilling onto the Wootey estate.

With the apparent inability of the drainage system to deal with the excess water, resident Bob Curtis is heading an Alton Eastbrooke and Wootey’s Residents’ Association flooding sub-committee to look into the matter.

This regular flooding is a real concern according to Mr Curtis, who said: “In the last few years ditches into the fields adjacent to the flow have become silted up, particularly at Blanes and Cadnam farms, the very location of the new housing development.

“Water that is normally infiltrated into these fields now runs past and then cannot enter Hampshire County Council drains as many are blocked.”

As a result, the water floods in areas of the Wootey estate where, according to Mr Curtis, the drains are unable to cope.

In the summer months, the main storm and foul sewer systems were overloaded causing manhole covers to lift and gully drains to back up.

John Grace, chairman of the Alton Eastbrooke and Wootey’s Residents’ Association planning sub-committee believes these two concerns have not been adequately addressed in the final planning applications (for reserved matters) for Cadnam Farm.

He said: “It’s vital that if you have concerns around the drainage and road safety associated with the 275 new homes in the area, you have your say before February 15.”

Mr Grace has also appealed for any photographs people might have of traffic incidents on Anstey Lane and flooding in the area that could be used to support residents’ concerns.

And in a bid to raise awareness and demonstrate pride in the area, he would like to see as many people as possible turning out to join Alton Eastbrooke and Wootey’s Residents’ Association in an area litter pick, working alongside Tesco Express representatives on Saturday, March 5, in support of the national ‘Clean for the Queen’ initiative.

Anyone with photographs to share or concerns over the Cadnam Farm proposals should visit eastbrookeandwooteys.org.