THE controversial proposed diversion of Andover Road North through the new Barton Farm estate was raised at Council.

Signe Biddle, a member of the public asked councillors about the plans to stop off the current Andover Road North and re-route it though the 2,000-home new estate currently under construction.

Ms Biddle said the diversion would go though the proposed ‘neighbourhood centre’ where there will be shops, community facilities and many pedestrians. “How compatible is this with traffic coming into the centre. What studies have been done to analyse the impact on congestion and pollution?”

Cllr Jackie Porter, Cabinet member for built environment and wellbeing, answered that she understood that such studies needed to be done and would be part of the detailing planning application for the neighbourhood centre.

The new neighbourhood centre was subject to discussion by councillors and members of the public at a meeting of the King’s Barton forum on Tuesday last week.

Viv Hill, senior design and planning manager for developer Cala, said: “It looks pretty impressive and we are pretty excited about how we can compliment the school on the site.”

Mr Hill said that the it is planned for the centre to boast a pub, children’s nursery, foodstore, community building and extra care facility.

And an office education is being planned, with discussions ongoing with Peter Symonds College about moving their adult education offerings to the site.

“It would be in my view nice to have a children’s nursery, primary, secondary and adult education in a few hundred yards of each other,” Mr Hill added.

While this was welcomed by councillors, concerns were raised that proposed retail units could attract a string of takeaways but planning chiefs advised that these units were sized to cater for independent businesses looking to expand.

Mr Hill also revealed that the proposed diversion is not expected for two years.

Councillors were also given a presentation by the head of Barton Farm Academy, Nicola Wells, who confirmed that after several delays the school would open in September next year. She said: “We will open just one class for Year R age children, there will be 30 places available. From the following year we will open up to 60 children. In total 420 children will be our capacity from Year R to Year 6.”