Hampshire County Council to consider road safety improvement scheme for Fleet town centre

If approved, the scheme would introduce a series of measures to tackle concerns about excessive speeding and improve safety at the junctions of Upper Street with Albert Street and Clarence Road, including improvements that enable more people to walk, wheel or cycle locally.  

Upper Street has a poor collision record, with failure to give way and excessive speeds frequently identified as contributory factors. Previous measures to address issues in the area have included adding yellow backboards to give way signs, high-friction surface treatment, refreshing road markings to highlight junctions and visually narrow the street, as well as installing retroreflective bollards.  

The latest proposed improvements seek to further reduce safety risks and include the introduction of traffic calming measures such as raised table junctions and road narrowing to reduce vehicle speeds, as well as simplification of movements through the junctions with the worst collision record. If approved, these changes to permitted movements would be enabled through a Traffic Regulation Order, which would be introduced for an initial ‘experimental’ period of up to 18 months. This would allow for residents and others to feedback on how the scheme is working in practice and enable the Council to monitor the changes made. A final decision on whether to make these changes permanent would then be needed. 

Councillor Lulu Bowerman, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport, said: “This scheme, if approved, would be the latest step to address long-standing road safety concerns in Fleet’s busy town centre, particularly issues around excessive speeding and disregard for give way signs. 

“These proposals would enhance overall safety for all road users, reducing incidents and encouraging people to walk or cycle more when travelling locally.  By providing safer, more accessible routes, the scheme is aiming to offer a welcoming alternative to busy roads and make it easier for residents to reach nearby shops and facilities.”