A WARNING that council taxpayers might have to foot the bill for scrapping a controversial traffic calming scheme at Fleet has been rubbished.

The spectre of taxpayers being left out of pocket was raised in last week's Star by John Stocks, a Hart county councillor who is caught up in the row.

He said the developer responsible for the Elvetham Heath housing scheme, who paid £148,000 for the traffic "obstacle course" to be built, might want his money back if it was ripped up.

"It's the council taxpayers who would have to foot the bill," he said.

But he has been contradicted by Brian Marsden, the county council's implementation manager:

In a letter to Russell Hunt, who is campaigning to have the Elvetham Road chicanes removed, Mr Marsden says: "I do not believe that any of the contribution would ever need to be refunded."

He is also unaware of any legal or contractual obligations which would prevent the scheme being ditched or modified.

As for the road's accident record, he confirms that it is not a "black spot".

There were two reported injury accidents in the three years between 1 May 1998 and 30 April 2001.

Between 1 May 2001 and 30 September 2002 there was one injury accident.

Mr Marsden adds that consultants are currently examining the operational and safety aspects of the traffic calming scheme.

The results are due to be presented to the Hart traffic management panel next April.

** There are ten of the concrete islands scattered along the mile-long road.