I’VE lost count of the number of people who’ve come up to me, before and since the local elections, with real concern in their voices and asked: “Can you do anything about this housing development up the road?”
They mean the 740 homes that'll be going up on the outskirts of West Harnham, along both sides of Netherhampton Road.
And my explanation has had to be: "Sorry, no. Wiltshire Council has already given permission. Salisbury City Council doesn't have the power to do anything about it.”
Despite the fact that these housing allocations were stitched up some time ago, they remained by far the biggest issue on the doorsteps. I don't think anyone outside Harnham truly appreciates how much the impact of the extra traffic queuing for the jammed-up Gyratory is dreaded.
They mean the 740 homes that'll be going up on the outskirts of West Harnham, along both sides of Netherhampton Road.
And my explanation has had to be: "Sorry, no. Wiltshire Council has already given permission. Salisbury City Council doesn't have the power to do anything about it.”
Despite the fact that these housing allocations were stitched up some time ago, they remained by far the biggest issue on the doorsteps. I don't think anyone outside Harnham truly appreciates how much the impact of the extra traffic queuing for the jammed-up Gyratory is dreaded.
Now I hear the sound of gears slowly grinding into motion. Noises are being made about 'improving' the junctions at Park Wall, Harnham Gyratory and Exeter Street, and I hope to be able to tell you more after a briefing from Wiltshire later this month.
I suspect any investment will have far more to do with the increasing number of juggernauts thundering past our homes since this suburban road was designated a major route to the ports than it does with our parochial worries. I also suspect it won’t alleviate residents’ concerns about living in the middle of a constant and ever-increasing stream of traffic, albeit one that’s moving a bit faster.
But you know me, I’m just an old cynic.
