THIS WEEK IN 2000: £2.5m link road hit by a land wrangle

Work on a £2.5m link road in Gosport was disrupted by a new setback because of confusion over who owned the land.Â

It came as the latest delay to hit the road, being built to connect the new 700-home estate at Priddy's Hard to the main A32. Work was delayed for weeks while attempts were being made to find who owned a section of Gunners Way, which the new road would cross.

Steven Wilks, the managing director of Barratt (Southampton) which was developing the site, said progress on the road could not be made until the matter was revolved. 

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He said legal agreements were required to allow work to begin.

'˜The delay has been frustrating, but I am hopeful the matter will be concluded in a few days,' said Mr Wilks.

Earlier that year, developers were faced with another headache after a badger sett was discovered near another section of the road. The plan to relocate the badgers to nearby allotments fell through, but discussions were under way to find the badgers a new home on another patch of land. 

Gosport council's planning chairman kept quiet until he said the latest hold-up was caused by an oversight.