HAMPSHIRE County Council have promised to reassess the Chapel Hill road closure weekly after photos reveal that motorists are still using the road.

As previously reported, the council have decided to close both Chapel Hill and Vyne Road underneath the railway bridges to all vehicles except from buses and taxis, to allow for extra space for pedestrians and cyclists whilst social distancing.

But photos have shown many motorists ignoring the signs, and using the road regardless.

Basingstoke Gazette:

A concerned member of the public labelled it as a "wholesale disregard" of the scheme, adding that "there appears to be no monitoring by the authorities".

And when the Gazette visited the site on Friday, many cars were seen still using the road, which forms the main link between the town centre and South View, Houndmills and the train station car park.

Hampshire County Council have since said that they will be monitoring the success of the scheme weekly.

Cllr Rob Humby, deputy leader, said: "The impact of the temporary Chapel Hill/Vyne Road scheme will be assessed weekly in terms of observational reports and on-site user feedback, and daily in terms of inspections of the barriers and signs. Traffic, pedestrian and cycle surveys will also be undertaken.

Basingstoke Gazette:

“Residents and users will be able to provide feedback via a QR bar code on site which can be scanned using a smartphone to provide comments or by visiting www.sustrans.org.uk/space-to-move where you can register your views

"The scheme will be formally reviewed after four weeks, when we will look at all of the feedback received alongside the traffic surveys in order to make a decision about whether the scheme is meeting its purpose – which is to make access safer for cyclists and pedestrians on Chapel Hill.”

It comes after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's Cllr Mark Ruffell labelled the scheme "potty" and criticised HCC for not consulting properly.

Basingstoke Gazette:

He said: "The whole method of dealing with us is not as I would like it and I have made it clear to our officers and them that they may be the transport authority, but they are 50-50 partners with us."

Cllr Humby continued: "“The transport and travel measures we are putting in place across Hampshire, including in Basingstoke, are to support the re-opening of town centres and businesses and to help enable social distancing measures, giving people the confidence to return.

"With pressures on public transport capacity, and the growth of cycling and walking during the pandemic, these measures will also enable more people to walk and cycle.

"The plans are being developed with Hampshire’s district and borough councils, Business Improvement Districts, town and parish councils, and other organisations who have expressed an interest."