Traffic fears fail to stop new 66-bed Fareham care home after 'ambulance crashed into parked car'

The Fareham Borough Council’s planning committee has approved plans for the three-storey care home on NHS-owned land formerly part of Fareham Community Hospital in Henry Road, Sarisbury Green.

The proposal, submitted by LNT Care Developments, was initially discussed in September but was postponed due to concerns over traffic congestion, queuing, and parking on Coldeast Way, which were raised by residents and councillors.

Hampshire County Council Highways was asked to reassess the plans and raised no objections.

Paul Lardner, representing the Orchid Residents Association, cited several near-misses on Coldeast Way on Saturday, November 29.

He said: “An ambulance crashed into a car, blocking the road for hours.”

In response, developer representative Sam Finley indicated that the company had proposed funding traffic measures to alleviate congestion.

However, the Highways Authority declined the offer, considering additional measures unnecessary.

Sarisbury and Whiteley councillor Joanna Burton also expressed frustrations at the lack of progress: “I have literally hit my head against a brick wall,” she said.

“I can appreciate why they are frustrated. We have got nowhere. The developer has tried, and I have done my bit as a county councillor.”

In order to address parking issues, the developer’s revised proposals now include 30 on-site parking spaces, five more than originally planned.

These extra spaces are intended to reduce off-street parking by visitors to the care home.

“Overall, our main objective is to provide the best care home possible.

“Providing a home and great place to live for residents which the older people in the local community very much deserve.”

Concerns about the removal of slow worms, a protected species, from the site were also addressed during the meeting.

Residents were reportedly upset after the developer began relocating the reptiles before planning consent had been granted.

The council intervened and halted the relocation process.

The slow worms that were moved are now relocated to a “habitarium” at Abbey Meadows in Titchfield.

The remaining slow worms, which are currently hibernating, will stay put until summer, the council confirmed.

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