I attended an Officer briefing this week, looking at potential improvements that could benefit Totton, using some of the £4.5 million Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money that is held be New Forest District Council.

There are two schemes involving the town that will be considered by the District Council Cabinet, one of which involves big improvements to the area around Brokenford Bridge, a Network Rail asset that provides pedestrian access over the railway line (that cuts the town in half).

As locals will know the approaches to the bridge, north and south, are terrible….. broken road surfaces, overgrown vegetation that is never cut back satisfactorily and a “desire line” crossing that is dangerous to use and needs upgrading to a proper crossing point.

Over the years, I have had particular difficulties whenever anyone complained about Brokenford Bridge. No authorities wanted to know about the different issues I raised, whether it was to do with vandalism, lighting not working, the poor state of the surface.

I have had that frustrating experience of being bounced around from one authority to another in an effort to get something done.

Interestingly, it turns out that there is a “right of way” that existed long before the railway track was put down. Network Rail are responsible for the bridge itself, but not the surface that people walk on !

Now you may think that the surface would be the job of the highways team at Hampshire County Council (that looks after pavements)…. but “No”….. it is actually the Hampshire Countryside service that maintains rights of way!

Anyway, I am very much hoping that a scheme that has been drawn up, improving the access to the bridge both sides and creating a safer crossing where people cross anyway will be supported. Totton has not received anything like the investment enjoyed by other towns in the district.