Residents to have a second chance to have their say on future of Romsey

A public consultation is to be held in May in a bid to give residents the opportunity to help shape a masterplan for the area around Crosfield Hall and the bus station.

This comes as the Romsey Future partnership, with the help of Nexus Planning and Perkins and Will, progresses its plans to develop proposals for the area south of the town centre.

As previously reported, the initial phase of the consultation in September and October last year saw more than 1,500 people proposing ways of improving that area of the town.

Among the ideas suggested were more green spaces in the town centre and the possibility or rebuilding Crosfield Hall, which was deemed “too old” and “not fit for purpose”.

Some of the topics discussed also included parking and making the most of the River Test.

Residents also suggested that there should be more shops but added that the character and individuality of the town must be kept.

Town bosses have now said the second stage of the public consultation will begin in May, although exact details are yet to be confirmed.

This will give the Romsey Future partnership time to consider the various suggestions.

Cllr Nick Adams-King, chairman of Romsey Future, said: “We are very grateful to everyone who has taken part so far. The partnership has been at so many events over the past few months and a large number of people have engaged with us.

“We’re looking forward to going out and speaking to more people this summer. Our aim is to adopt our blueprint masterplan by the end of 2019 so we can bring the project forward in the following years.”