Natalia Forero

Hampshire County Council reports a £550 million backlog in road and bridge repairs as it prepares to meet new government requirements for annual road maintenance reporting. The council is investing £15 million this summer but warns that the scale of needed improvements exceeds current budgets, citing years of underinvestment and shifting resources to urgent pothole repairs during severe weather. Councillor Steve Forster says the council will continue pressing the government for adequate funding as it works to complete its first mandated report by the September deadline.

Hampshire County Council approved a £1.53 million contract to secure the Stagecoach-operated Service 14 bus route between Basingstoke and Tadley for at least four years from September 2026, with an option for a two‑year extension. The route links several villages and supports around 120,000 passenger journeys annually, including school travel to Bishops Challoner School. Funding will come from the council’s local bus budget and the national local authority bus grant.

Hampshire County Council plans to reduce the speed limit to 40mph on sections of the B3349 and The Avenue near the Golden Pot junction following continued collisions and resident safety concerns. Officials say the change should reduce both the number and severity of crashes, particularly with new housing planned nearby. Residents largely support the lower limit, though several argue that additional measures such as traffic lights or speed cameras may be necessary to improve safety further.