The travel scheme, agreed on Monday 27 November by Councillor Nick Adams-King, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Lead for Universal Services, aims to encourage walking and cycling and improve travel choice, particularly for more local journeys. It will divert vehicle traffic away from Fishers Hill onto more suitable routes by installing a gate that will act as a traffic filter. The emergency services and other authorised vehicles, such as refuse lorries, will continue to have full access to the lane when required, while vehicular access to properties along the road will continue to be maintained.
Cllr Adams-King said: “I have carefully considered all the information presented relating to this scheme, including traffic surveys and the findings from the public consultation.
“Fishers Hill is a narrow lane with no pavements, which is frequently used on a daily basis by high volumes of traffic diverting to avoid congestion on busier roads. Whilst I recognise that the proposal has attracted strong opinions on both sides, on balance, I agree that a permanent filter should be installed to help encourage walking and cycling and deliver environmental benefits, such as improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions.”
Fishers Hill is a semi-rural lane that is used as a local connection between west Fareham, Titchfield Park and Segensworth but is also used as a route for vehicles making longer journeys that are looking to avoid the A27. It is also identified as route for improvement in the adopted Fareham Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
A traffic filter was previously installed on Fishers Hill on 7 September 2020 and subsequently removed at the end of the Covid-19 lockdown periods in July 2021. Feedback was invited from the public whilst it was in place to inform a decision as to whether to retain the feature permanently. A second round of public consultation took place between January and March 2023.
