£2 million to be spent redeveloping Aldershot train station
There has been some criticism to the plans
Hampshire County Council is set to spend £2 million on the redevelopment of Aldershot’s train station, despite criticism that the new cycle route will lead nowhere and a bus station upgrade would be better.
The proposed changes will focus on creating a high-quality north-south cycle route between Aldershot Railway Station and the Wellesley housing development, providing the second cycle links between Wellesley and the town centre, with this being the eastern link, which connects to the railway station.
Councillor Nick Adams-King, Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for universal services, approved the recommendation to invest £2.052 million in the scheme on his decision day (November 27).
He said that it took four years to get to the approval stage and to wait longer would mean that the council would get less for its money.
Cllr Adams-King said: “I’m pleased to agree this package of improvements in the centre of Aldershot, focused on making access to the rail station better for walkers and cyclists and providing greener travel options for journeys between the railway station, the town centre and surrounding areas of residential development.
“With the financial realities facing us, it makes sense that the scope of the scheme has been reviewed to develop a plan we can realistically deliver within the resources we have available. I’m pleased that a scheme can now go ahead.”
However, Labour group leader Councillor Alex Crawford said that there is no demand in the area for cycling and that the proposed route will lead nowhere.
He said: “There is currently absolutely no demand for cycling anywhere in Aldershot to Aldershot station. Yet, we have this £2 million scheme that is being proposed.
“Hampshire County Council only this month decided to cut £132 million from revenue spending on non-statutory services. Therefore, it seems wrong to commit over two million pounds of capital spending just to take cyclists and pedestrians through the back streets of Aldershot with three complicated new crossings across busy roads only for the route to come to a brat end at the bottom of Gun Hill.
“£2 million for a route to nowhere.”
Cllr Crawford said that everyone in Aldershot could see that the “immediate priority” for improving access from the railway station to the town centre and wider area should be to take over and upgrade the bus station.
“After the bus station closed, a survey of several hundred bus users in Aldershot concluded with the recommendation that Hampshire County Council should consider acquiring this site, which is being put up for sale for £1.75m,” he said.
“Then Aldershot could once again benefit from a rail-bus interchange. Everyone I asked in Aldershot agrees that it would be much preferable for the two million pounds to be spent improving accessibility by bus to and from the railway station.”
He said that the £1.75m was originally approved for the scheme in 2020 to “provide an improved interchange facility to lock in high levels of walking, cycling and public transport users”.
He added: “Without bus access to the railway station, the aim of an improved interchange facility would be frustrated. Stagecoach indicated that bus access to the railway station is needed, but it is not available .. The priority now should be to restore an effective railway interchange.”
The council officer said the authority would continue working with the developer to create the link.
Work is expected to start in May 2024 and take up to six months to complete.