Bus Rapid Transit

News - updated 26 January 2012

Redlands Lane closure - late February/early March 2012

In order to complete the works to Redlands Lane in Gosport, a further closure of a few hours' duration is required.  This work is weather-dependent, so a precise date cannot be given.  However, we anticipate that the work will take place between Monday 27 February and Friday 2 March.  A temporary diversion will be in place.

Older News

10 June 2011

10 June: Your Questions Answered updated

3 March 2011 - Gosport Wych Lane to close for 10 months on 7 March

Full details - Gosport Wych Lane to close for 10 months on 7 March

1 March 2011 - Works at Junction of A27 with Redlands Lane and Gudge Heath Lane, Fareham to start on 14 March

Full details about the works at Junction of A27 with Redlands Lane and Gudge Heath Lane

19 January 2011 - Supreme Court decision means route now clear for Bus Rapid Transit scheme

The last legal challenge brought against the planning consent for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Phase 1 Fareham to Gosport has been rejected. Following a hearing at the Supreme Court last November, the law lords announced their judgment today (Wednesday 19 January) which dismissed the appeal against Hampshire County Council.

Read the full press release

11 November 2010 - County Council waits for Supreme Court decision on BRT

Hampshire County Council is awaiting the judgement of the Supreme Court on an aspect of the planning process of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) following a hearing earlier this week (Monday 8 November).

The legal challenge against Hampshire County Council relates to the planning permission granted for the BRT route Phase 1 Fareham to Gosport, rather than the merits of the scheme itself, and has already been dismissed by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Read the full press release

2 September 2010 Full construction starts on BRT Phase 1

Work to clear vegetation, including trees, from the disused railway corridor began on 1 September 2010.

Trees will be inspected for bat roosts and bird nests before any work is carried out on them, and will only take place if there are no bats or unfledged birds present. Bird and bat boxes have already been installed along and around the route as part of the mitigation works to accommodate wildlife.

These works will not have any direct impact on existing traffic flows in the area, as they are predominantly confined to the old railway corridor and embankments. A new temporary access to the construction site will be put in place on the A32, which will need to cross part of the pavement. The necessary safety works to protect pedestrians will be put in place.

Work will normally take place between 7am and 6:30pm from Monday to Friday, and 8am to 5pm on Saturday.

Read the full press release
More information: see our FAQ page

4 August 2010 BRT Phase 1 film comes to Crofton Community Centre

To enable residents in the Stubbington area to view the visualisation at a local venue, we have arranged for the film to be shown at Crofton Community Centre from Friday 6 August to Monday 9th August, inclusive. For more detail about the times the film will be shown, please take a look at the list of BRT visulisation tour locations below.

28 July 2010 BRT wins in final legal challenge

A final attempt to stop the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), through legal challenge, was overcome on Tuesday 27 July when three law lords sitting in the Supreme Court refused an application for an injunction to halt the scheme and dismissed two grounds of an application for leave to appeal against the earlier decision allowing the scheme to proceed, made by the Court of Appeal on 10 June.
Read the full press release
More information - see our FAQ page

14 July 2010 BRT Phase 1 film comes to a venue near you

The BRT Phase 1 video - a computer-generated film that shows how the South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1 will look when it is built - has started its tour of local venues in Fareham and Gosport which will take place between 12 July and 9 August 2010.  

We hope you'll be able to get along to see it but, if you can't, do remember you can view the BRT visualisation online

10 June 2010 Court of Appeal decision: construction of BRT Phase 1 back on track

The South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit scheme is back on track following a decision in the Court of Appeal today (10 June). The planning process for the Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1 route went to the Court of Appeal after the claimant applied for leave to appeal against the judgement of His Honour Judge Bidder QC in November 2009, which dismissed the application for judicial review of the decision by Hampshire County Council to grant planning permission. The Appeal Court hearing was held in front of three senior judges on 10 and 11 March 2010.

More information: Read the County Council media release about the Court of Appeal decision
More information - see our FAQ page

4 June 2010 Palmerston Drive closed for bridge removal

Palmerston Drive in Fareham will be closed from 7 June for five weeks for removal of the existing bridge over Palmerston Drive, widening of the Palmerston Drive carriageway and the construction of a new pavement.  Pedestrian and cycle access will be maintained along a new route to be provided adjacent to the existing bridge.

Vehicles that would normally enter Palmerston Drive from the A32 (southbound) will be diverted to the Mill Road roundabout and back onto Newgate Lane.  Northbound vehicles (from Palmerston Industrial Estate) heading for Redlands Lane will be diverted along Newgate Lane, around the Mill Road roundabout and back under the Newgate Lane flyover.

Working hours throughout the road closure will be between 9am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 8am and 5pm on Saturdays.

More information - Read the County Council media release about Palmerston Drive
More information: see our FAQ page

19.03.10 - Outcome of Court of Appeal hearing on 10 March 2010

The Court of Appeal hearing was held in front of three senior Appeal Court judges and the hearing extended to a second day. At the end of day two, the judges announced that the would reserve their judgement but, having regard to the time constraints in respect of funding for BRT Phase 1, undertook to announce their judgement as quickly as possible. As soon as we are aware of the judgement, we will make a further announcement.

02.03.10 - Village Green Applications and the BRT route

An independent inspector has been appointed to hear the evidence for and against the applications for village greens before preparing written reports in which a recommendation will be made to the County Council's Regulatory Committee for their consideration in determining the applications.

The process will be carried out as speedily as possible and until it has been completed it would be inappropriate for the County Council to speculate on the outcomes and any implications for the construction of Phase 1 of the Bus Rapid Transit scheme.

Hampshire County Council believes that the provision of this dedicated busway, using £20million of Government funding, will provide significant transport improvements in the area and provide a high quality reliable public transport alternative. Often in delivering a scheme of this scale it is necessary to address a number of legal issues and this is what the County Council is doing in a responsible and transparent way.