AS Hampshire County Council begins the process of transforming Whitehill and Bordon’s roads, it’s asking residents what they think.

The county council recently unveiled a wide range of proposals designed to improve local travel once the new relief road is open.

It’s called the ‘Whitehill & Bordon Integration Project’ and will see a raft of transport schemes implemented from spring 2019 onwards. But, before the green light, HCC is urging local people to share their views.

“The new relief road gives us the ideal opportunity to take a fresh look at how people get around the town,” commented Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport at the county council.

“The county council is fully committed to the successful regeneration of Whitehill and Bordon, and these proposals are designed to integrate new developments with the existing town.

“Thanks to everyone who came to our public exhibitions in July. We’ve got some good feedback already but want to hear from as many people as possible. Information on the proposals is still on display at Bordon Library and at the Forest Centre, along with questionnaires and pre-paid return envelopes. People can also respond online.”

The plans involve a package of transport measures to support Whitehill and Bordon’s regeneration into a ‘Green and Healthy Town’.

Essentially, once fully open, the idea is that the new relief road will in effect “become the A325” - meaning through-traffic is taken away from the centre of the town. To help this aim, the existing A325 and neighbouring roads will be subject to a number of changes.

For example, sections of the current A325 will be narrowed, more zebra/ tiger crossings will appear and more facilities for cyclists will be developed, including a “continuous shared-use path on the western side of the current A325, and the northern side of Budds Lane”.

Budds Lane too will see some alterations, with HCC wanting to “change the character of the road to a park-type environment”.

Motorists will be familiar with difficult junctions in the centre of Bordon - something Hampshire County Council wants the project to address.

For instance, Budds Lane/Chalet Hill junctions will include mini-roundabouts, to ease flow and reduce the “dominance of north-south traffic”.

Other routes will see roads widened, kerbs added or removed and more, making life easier for all road users.

HCC previously outlined the Integration Project’s five key objectives, which are to: knit together the existing and new areas of town; reduce traffic levels in the town to accommodate planned growth in housing and jobs; make the town an attractive place to live; support better health and enable sustainable growth.

The £27m relief road is set to open this winter and integration work will begin almost immediately after.

Initially th county council will focus on improving Budds Lane and ‘Arrival Square’, to pave the way for the new town centre and new Mill Chase Academy building.

The main entrances into the town, the ‘northern and southern gateways’, will be subject to work thereafter to encourage use of the relief road by through-traffic, while reinforcing “the change of character of the current A325”.

Later HCC will review Station Road, Hogmoor Road, Chalet Hill and the remaining sections of the A325.

Mr Humby continued: “It’s really important we hear from the local community, so I would urge people to let us know what they think of the proposals.”

The survey is open until September 9. Visit hants.gov.uk to tell the council what you think.