Firefighters warn Wickham road changes could delay emergency response

A fire station has warned that traffic restrictions introduced on a Hampshire road could slow firefighters responding to emergencies.

In a post on social media, Wickham Fire Station said a one-way system imposed on Mill Lane would “severely affect the efficiency” of firefighters travelling to the station when called out. The station claimed the arrangement had been introduced without consultation on its impact and appealed for support from residents.

The concerns were echoed by Andrew Saint, 58, whose brother-in-law is an on-call firefighter at Wickham Fire Station. He said the traffic changes had almost doubled his brother-in-law’s journey time to the station.

The firefighter would normally use Mill Lane to reach the station, but the one-way system meant he had to take a longer diversion.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Saint said: “It means he has to divert, which basically almost doubles his journey time to get to the fire station.

“On a shout, on a call-out, that could affect emergencies. If people get stuck in a fire or a car accident or whatever, that’s my concern.”

Mr Saint said he feared the impact could go beyond a single firefighter’s journey and affect the station’s ability to respond quickly to emergencies.

He said: “If the firemen aren’t able to get there in time, it puts the fire station in jeopardy.”

He also claimed local residents had not been informed about the changes beforehand and criticised what he saw as a lack of consultation.

The concerns come after Hampshire County Council introduced a temporary one-way system on Mill Lane following the collapse of part of a roadside ditch.

However, the council says the road has since had to close completely after the temporary traffic signs were vandalised and removed.

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: “The one-way system on Mill Lane was introduced for safety reasons after part of the roadside ditch collapsed, leaving the road unsuitable for two-way traffic.

“Temporary signage was installed while we assessed the damage and considered repair options.

“Regrettably, the signage was vandalised and removed, meaning the road has now had to fully close.

“We are currently confirming plans to repair the collapsed ditch and the adjacent section of damaged road.

“At this stage, we estimate that the road could reopen to two-way traffic from Saturday, October 24, although this remains subject to weather conditions and other factors.”

The council said the restrictions were necessary to maintain safety while repair options were considered.