Gosport Voi bike-share scheme wins council backing despite objections blunder

A major bike-share scheme is set to roll out despite concerns that some residents’ objections were initially overlooked.

Members of Gosport Borough Council’s Economic Regeneration and Skills Board approved plans for the scheme at a meeting on September 24, paving the way for a network of e-bikes and docking stations across the borough.

The project is designed to encourage people to use alternative forms of transport while helping visitors explore more of the town.

The scheme, being run by Hampshire County Council in partnership with operator Voi, is expected to provide around 100 e-bikes for hire. These will be split between Gosport and Totton, which is also seeing the scheme introduced.

Voi also runs the e-scooter and e-bike scheme in Portsmouth.

Reform UK councillor Paul Jacobs, who represents Rowner and Holbrook, said: “The Bikeshare scheme represents significant investment into Gosport and will introduce many people to an alternative mode of transport around the town.

“It will give visitors the opportunity to explore places that they may not be able to easily get to, like the newly expanded Diving Museum at Stokes Bay.”

Despite welcoming the scheme, he said that two proposed bike hub locations were only removed from the plans after concerns were raised about the consultation process.

He said Hampshire County Council carried out a public consultation more than a year ago, but objections to hubs at Dolphin Crescent and Palmyra Road were not properly reflected in the results presented to councillors.

According to Cllr Jacobs, Dolphin Crescent residents submitted a petition containing more than 30 names opposing the plans.

Objections were also lodged by a resident and a shop owner in Palmyra Road. He said those locations had nevertheless been recorded as attracting “no objections”, meaning the hubs would likely have been approved had the issue not been challenged.

Cllr Jacobs said: “Following enquiries by myself and Cllr Taylor Kirkham, two bike hub locations have been removed from the scheme. We are pleased that residents’ objections have now been heard and suitable alternative locations will now be found.”

He also claimed the consultation process had not reached all affected residents, with some households allegedly not receiving notification letters and others not seeing signs displayed on lamp posts before the deadline for comments.

Cllr Jacobs said this meant the consultation could have attracted further comments had more people been aware of the proposals. Despite those concerns, he said the revised scheme would bring benefits to the borough and encourage more sustainable travel.

While helmets will not be compulsory for riders, Cllr Jacobs urged users to wear one.