On this walk we look at the sites considered for park-and-ride (p&r) in the report “Strategic Park and Ride Opportunities for the Southampton Area”. It takes about one hour.
Go down Bassett Green Road, under the railway arch and, just past the Fleming Arms, turn onto the Monks Brook Greenway.
Walk along the path. The vegetation beside the railway line has been recently cleared.
Where you see the gas holders, cross the railway line by the public footpath which then runs along the south side of Ford’s car park. This car park is the first of the p&r sites.
Go along Wide Lane and under the M27. As you climb the bridge over the railway you see on your left the playing field that is the most favoured site for p&r.
Continuing to the roundabout, ahead are two more p&r sites on the opposite side of Wide Lane to the railway station. One is on part of the University Sports Ground and the other on the King Edward VI School fields. Now retrace your steps to the Monks Brook Greenway and continue along the path.
Cross the new bridge over Monks Brook into the field beyond, also a p&r site. Follow the path along the east and then north side, pass through the tunnel and come to the field used by travellers in the summer and another p&r site. (Yet another is on the other side of the M27.)
Walk southwards along the Stoneham Way side of this field to the fence. The rough ground beyond, plus part of the adjoining BTC sports ground, is our last p&r site and is within the area reserved for a bus depot and park-and-ride in the City’s draft Local Plan. Go along this side of the field until there is a gate. Pass under the bar into the BTC ground and exit though a gap in the fence into Stoneham Lane and so return home.