P O T H O L E S

Crows Lane: These were reported March 2024 but deemed not requiring action

Hall Lane from Ivy Cottage towards Farringdon Entrance Corner -  these were reported March 2024 but deemed not requiring action

The Street: Reported but deemed not requiring action

 

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D R A I N S

IF YOU HAVE A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY PLEASE ENSURE THAT GRAVEL DOES NOT GO ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS IT CAN END UP BLOCKING THE DRAINS.

Brightstone Lane - We are aware of the issues with blocked drains here and have written numerous times to HCC.  There are 22 drains here.

Crows Lane -  Works to be scheduled by HCC (no date known)

Hall Lane (near Upper Farringdon House/corner sign) - deemed not requiring action

Shirnall Meadows / Chase View Entrance - this problem with the blocked drains has been sorted by HCC. We are hoping that they are now part of the maintenance schedule to avoid future flooding here.

We are creating a Drain Location Book, taking pictures of where the drains are in Farringdon, this is then put on a Farringdon map (numbering the drains). This will be put on this website when finished (bit of a slog as there are a lot of drains to photograph and map), so if you feel there is an issue with drains you can look at the book and tell us the number. This should be finished by December 2024 hopefully.

 

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Gaston Lane / Barleywood Farm Lane - Letter to HCC from Farringdon Parish Council 6th January 2025 .... AND RESPOSE FROM HCC

FPC LETTER.....

In January 2024 HCC closed Barleywood Farm Lane at the culvert, having taken the decision to close this section for safety reasons and on the advice of a structural engineer. Farringdon Parish Council (FPC) were advised in March 2024 that “we are currently liaising with our Structures department on securing a team who can carry out the repairs. Works will be programmed as soon as resource allows but until that time the road will remain closed for safety”.

Since that date I have, on behalf of FPC, sought further progress updates, these are what I have received from you and the team... 

· April 2024 – “Currently there is no programmed date for the works, but it is in hand and notification will be given once a date is obtained”.

· May 2024 – “The culvert is due to be replaced in it’s entirety and the Structures team in Hampshire CC are currently designing the solution for this as well as liaising with relevant authorities to get permission to do this”.

· May 2024 – from the then Head of Universal Services, Mr Nick Adams King, “The road will remain closed until the culvert is fully replaced. Unfortunately, the estimated completion will not be known until the box unit / culvert manufacturer provides estimated delivery dates. Current thinking is that the road will re-open towards the end of summer” (2024).

· August 2024 – “The design is progressing but now needs to be validated with some geotechnical investigations”.

· September 2024 – “The design team are finalising the replacement and ensuring the necessary consents are in place”.

· October 2024 – “Unfortunately, I don’t have any dates for work yet as this is subject to finalizing the design and obtaining all necessary consents”.

· November 2024 – “Our designers are still working on the replacement”.

· January 2025 – “We are planning to replace the culvert in its entirety, and it is, therefore, a detailed process. I do not have a date for the works at this time and we will update you as soon as we do”.

It is now several months since Mr Nick Adams-King advised that the planned work was progressing and due to be completed by the end of Summer 2024 and still we are receiving advice of further indeterminate delays. Replacement of the existing culvert with a box culvert is not an unusual repair and the box units are generally available off-the-shelf or with very short lead times. FPC does not understand why this work is taking so long to schedule into your programme of work and to complete. It is very frustrating for residents and local farmers who are affected by this road closure, as well as general road users, including cyclists.

Please confirm that HCC have the funding in place to undertake this work in this financial year, that the replacement culvert will leave the road no narrower than it is at present and advise when you anticipate it being completed.

 

HCC RESPONSE...

Unfortunately, the design of a replacement structure, which in this case also includes approach walls to retain the highway, to the appropriate standards, and with the correct liaison, investigations, and agreements/approvals does take time.

We currently have an extremely high workload and limited capacity within the Structures team, but I can assure you the design has been ongoing and is currently being worked on and finalised.

I can also confirm that the replacement is fully funded and will take place as soon as practicable, once we have ironed out the remaining details. The designers have been discussing details with the contractor regarding buildability and after consultation with our Road Safety team are looking at the installation of kerbing to keep vehicles central as they cross the culvert to avoid a repeat of the previous damage. I will liaise with them regarding the overall width of the finished carriageway.

At this point I am afraid I cannot give a definite date when the works will take place but can assure you that the design team will prioritise this and we will endeavour to have the road opened as soon as possible.