WATER repairs on a busy thoroughfare in North Baddesley are causing traffic "pandemonium" as drivers are forced to use smaller, residential roads as an alternative.

Hoe Lane, in particular, has been swamped with cars and lorries as Southern Water continues work on a leaking water main at a stretch of Botley Road notorious for flooding.

The works began on April 4 and were due to last four days. However, as of April 9, they were still ongoing with machinery tearing up the asphalt.

Neighbours Mike Cooper, 85, and Cliff Stride, 80, both of whom have lived on Hoe Lane for more than 10 years, spoke to the Advertiser about the disruption, which also involves the adjoining Rownhams Lane.

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Drivers are being discouraged from using Hoe Lane as a diversion route (Image: NQ) "Between seven and nine [in the morning] it's bad," Mike said. "It's pretty horrendous going up there. When you've got traffic coming out and traffic coming in, sometimes it's queueing right back up here.

"Rownhams Lane; that's a busy road, and with these guys trying to get out, especially school time, it can back up down the road. It all depends how busy it is."

Cliff added: "It's not so bad now the kids are off school, but once they get back to school – it's murder."

Turning off Rownhams Lane onto Hoe Lane, a sign has been put up saying, 'Not suitable for diverted traffic.'

"They don't take no notice of that," said Mike.

Cars turning around on Botley Road; the Southern Water works can be seen in the background (Image: NQ) All this is not helped by the numerous lorries and vans using Hoe Lane to access the building site at Mountbatten Park. 

The problem at the root of North Baddesley's current traffic woes is not a new one either.

Ken Park took up the issue of flooding on Botley Road years ago with Hampshire Highways (HH) regarding the section currently undergoing repairs, where the footpath frequently flooded.

In a recent letter to HH's highways area manager, he blasted the organisation's management of traffic through the town during the closure, citing the "pandemonium" on Hoe Lane.

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A car turns off Rownhams Lane onto Hoe Lane (Image: NQ) "[Hampshire] Highways should have checked the traffic management plan prior to [the] works commencing," he wrote. "Not Hampshire Highways' finest moment."

Mr Park also pointed out that, while the flooding at the site had been resolved, he had flagged the leakage on Botley Road to HH almost a year ago.

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: "We’re repairing a water main which carries water to homes. Flooding would be a drainage issue, which is normally the responsibility of the council."