Councillor Mike Ford

06/03/2026

M27 Junction 5 to 7 Overlay Scheme – Technology Works

As part of our ongoing technology testing, we need to close sections of the M27 overnight in order to gain access to the entire carriageway. We’ll also take the opportunity to install gantry signs, remove temporary signs, and undertake seeding in the verge.
We understand that full carriageway closures can increase journey times, as well as cause disruption along diversion routes, however, we’re unable to complete this testing without accessing all four lanes at the same time. I apologise in advance for any frustration caused by our ongoing work.

Please see the below table of closures, taking place overnight, between 9pm and 6am:

Closure Date(s)

M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 7 16 March 2026
M27 junction 4 eastbound to M27 junction 8 17/18 March 2026
M27 junction 9 westbound to junction 4 24 March 2026

Please note that all dates and times are subject to change due to operational requirements or adverse weather.

As discussed in our previous update, most of our remaining work will take place remotely, away from the M27, so road users traveling during the daytime are unlikely to see a significant presence on site during this period.

Designated diversion routes will be in place during this time. You can find more information at the end of this e-Bulletin. All dates are subject to change due to operational requirements or adverse weather.

Get in touch
If you have any questions about the overlay scheme, you can call the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, or email [email protected].
You can keep up to date on road closures by visiting our webpage at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/M27Concrete.

21/02/2026

IS THE END IN SIGHT!

M27 Junction 5 to 7 Overlay Scheme – Phase 5 Preparations and Installation

I’m writing to let you know that our work to remove the crossover locations installed for the contraflow system, and the installation of permanent white lines, is coming to an end shortly.

Once these activities are complete, we’ll then move into the final phase of the scheme, focussing on testing and recommissioning the technology on the M27.

Before we can move into the final phase of the scheme, we need to finish the activities referenced above. We need access to the entire carriageway to carry out these works, and as such, the below closures will be in place overnight from 9pm to 6am the following morning:

Closure(s)
Date(s)

M27 junction 7 westbound to junction 4
23 February 2026
M27 junction 9 westbound to junction 8
25 February 2026
M27 junction 8 westbound to junction 5
26 February 2026

Please note that designated diversion routes will be in place during this time. You can find more information at the end of this e-Bulletin. All dates are subject to change due to operational requirements or adverse weather.

During the next phase of the scheme, we’ll remove the narrow lanes, along with the width restrictions and temporary signage. Lane one will remain closed on both carriageways, and the temporary 50mph speed limit will stay in place. These measures are essential to keep road users safe while we test and recommission the technology.

Most of our work in phase 5 will take place remotely, away from the M27, so road users are unlikely to see a significant presence on site during this period. All remaining work is expected to be finished by spring 2026.

The time needed to test and commission technology can vary on each upgraded motorway, and as such, we’re not able to provide an exact scheme completion date just yet. As soon as a date is confirmed we’ll be sure to issue another update.

The switch to phase 5 will take place on 27 February 2026, please see the below image which displays the new layout:

M27 Junction 7 Westbound Entry Slip Road
As part of our ongoing work around junction 7, we need to upgrade a section of safety barrier along the lane two verge of the westbound entry slip road. This cannot be completed during standard overnight lane or slip road closures, as we need access to sections of the road for longer periods of time.

To carry out this work safely, we’ll utilise a daytime lane two closure (the shorter lane) of the M27 junction 7 westbound entry slip road, while fully closing the slip road overnight from 9pm to 6am each night, from 26 February 2026 to 13 March 2026.

As we’re closing lane two on the entry slip road, we’ll also temporarily adjust the road markings and lane assignment on the junction 7 roundabout and support these changes with temporary signage.

We recognise that this may lead to increased congestion at peak times, and we apologise in advance for any disruption caused while we carry out this essential work.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the overlay scheme, you can call the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, or email [email protected].

You can keep up to date on road closures by visiting our webpage at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/M27Concrete.

06/11/2025

M27 Junction 5 to 7 Overlay Scheme

To complete technology works on the eastbound carriageway in the verge, we need to close the M27 junction 5 eastbound entry slip road on 10 November 2025, from 9.00pm to 6.00am the following morning.

We also need to close the westbound carriageway overnight between junctions 8 and 4 each night from 17 November to 21 November 2025 to continue surfacing lanes one and two.

Later in November the westbound entry and exit slip roads, including the M3 link road at junction 4, will also be closed each night from 24 November to 29 November 2025.

Please see the ‘Diversion Routes’ section at the end of this letter for more information. Please note all dates are subject to change due to operational requirements or adverse weather.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about this work, you can call the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, or email [email protected].

You can find more information about the scheme and closures by visiting our webpage at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/M27Concrete, where you can also register to receive emails whenever new information is published, ensuring you’re kept up-to-date on the scheme’s progress.

We're overlaying the existing concrete surface between junctions 5 and 7 of the M27 with an asphalt low-noise surface which will mean a smoother ride for drivers and less noise for nearby residents.

23/10/2025

! M27 TEN DAY CLOSURE !

Bit early to be using the 'C' word but if you're planning on travelling on the M27 over Christmas, then forward planning is advised ...

The M27 motorway will be closed completely, in both directions, between Junctions 9 (Whiteley) and 11 (Fareham), from 8pm, 24 December 2025 to 4am on Sunday 4 January 2026.

The closure is required to put in place a new four-lane wide underpass beneath the M27, using an innovative ‘box slide’ engineering technique. Using this method means that many months of lane restrictions, speed limits, and overnight works can be avoided.

The giant pre-constructed concrete structure - weighing approximately 8,500 tonnes (2.5 times heavier than HMS Victory) - will be slid 65 metres into a deep trench cut into the motorway embankment, from its current construction location on the north of the motorway. The motorway will then be fully reconstructed above it.

Key information road users need to know during the closure period:
The M27 will be closed completely, in both directions, between Junctions 9 (Whiteley) and 11 (Fareham), from 8pm, 24 December 2025 to 4am on Sunday 4 January 2026.

There will be a signed diversion route in place along the A27, which is mostly two lanes in each direction, during the closure. This route is expected to be busy, particularly between 10am and 4pm every day when drivers should be prepared for extended delays. Road users should aim to plan their journey in advance and consider alternatives including public transport, travelling during less busy times, using different routes, or considering if their journey is really necessary.

Drivers will be able to exit the M27 westbound at Junction 11 for Fareham and Gosport, and eastbound at Junction 9 for Whiteley and Park Gate. However, there will be no westbound entry to the M27 at Junction 11 for traffic heading towards Southampton or the A32 (Alton), and no eastbound entry at Junction 9 for traffic heading towards Portsmouth.

Diversion Route
There will be a signed diversion route along the A27, which is mostly two lanes in each direction, during the closure. This is expected to be very busy, particularly between 10am and 4pm every day when drivers should be prepared for severe delays. Road users should plan their journey in advance and consider alternatives including public transport, travelling during less busy times, using different routes, or considering if their journey is really necessary.

15/09/2025

Postal voters urged to re-apply for postal vote

The next scheduled local elections are in May 2026, so
Fareham Borough Council is reminding residents who vote in elections by post that they must re-apply for their postal vote if they wish to continue voting this way.

Following a change to the law under the Elections Act 2022, the maximum length of time an elector can hold a postal vote changed from indefinitely to a maximum period of three years. All domestic electors whose postal vote was granted on or before 30 January 2024 must re-apply by 31 January 2026, otherwise their entitlement to vote by post will expire.

The Council is required to notify voters that their postal vote is due to expire and provide information on how to re-apply. Those affected will receive a written notice by post in the coming weeks.

The quickest way to apply is online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote. If electors are unable to use the online service, they can complete and return the application form on the reverse of their letter.

To prevent a surge of applications towards the end of the re-application period, the Council encourages voters to re-apply at their earliest opportunity.

If postal voters do not re-apply by 31 January 2026, their postal vote will be cancelled, as required by law. Notification of this cancellation will be emailed or written to the elector, explaining that they will only be able to vote in person at a polling station until they successfully apply again.

For more information about postal vote re-applications, visit the Council’s website:

https://www.fareham.gov.uk/about_the_council/elections_and_voting/intro.aspx .

If voters no longer wish to vote by post and therefore do not intend to re-apply for their postal vote, they should email [email protected] to instruct the Council to cancel their postal vote, ensuring they include their full name and address.

For further information or assistance, please contact the Electoral Services team on 01329 824588.

14/08/2025

Imminent M27 road closure for overlay work
e-Bulletin – 14 August 2025
M27 Junction 5 to 7 Overlay Scheme update

Our work to overlay lanes one and two of the westbound carriageway is progressing well. As part of our ongoing works, we need to complete some general maintenance and light vegetation clearance to ensure our signs remain visible.

Road closures

To do this work safely, we need to close the M27 eastbound between junction 4 and junction 8 each night on:

16 and 17 August 2025, from 9pm to 6am

Road closures

If you're travelling eastbound on the M27 between junction 4 and junction 8, please follow this route:

• Travel northbound from M27 junction 4 onto the M3
• Exit at junction 13
• Travel east along Leigh Road (A335)
• Go south along Wide Lane (A335) until you reach Mansbridge Road (A27)
• Follow the A27 towards Fareham until you reach Windhover Roundabout (A3024)
• Rejoin the M27 eastbound at junction 8

Please allow extra time for your journey.

All dates are subject to change due to operational requirements or adverse weather

Get in touch
If you have any questions about this work, call our Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, or email [email protected].

Keep up to date with road closures at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/M27Concrete.

24/07/2025

M27 Junction 5 to 7 Overlay Scheme – Overnight Carriageway Closures

I’m writing to let you know that our work to overlay lanes one and two of the westbound carriageway is now underway. As part of our preparatory works, we need to complete some general maintenance, as well as light vegetation clearance to ensure our signs remain visible.

As part of this work, we need to close sections of M27 overnight from 9.00pm to 6.00am on the dates listed below.


Please note, all dates are subject to change due to operational requirements or adverse weather.

Get in touch
If you have any questions about this work, you can call the National Highways
Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, or email [email protected].

You can keep up to date on road closures by visiting our webpage at www.nationalhighways.co.uk/M27Concrete.

Diversion routes

Overnight Closures Diversion

M27 junction 5 westbound entry slip road - - Follow the A335 westbound until reaching the M3
- Join the M3 southbound carriageway
- Join the M27 westbound carriageway via the M3 link road

M27 junction 4 eastbound to junction 8 - Travel northbound on the M3
- Exit at junction 13 and follow Leigh Road
- Travel southbound on Wide Lane until reaching the A27
- Follow the A27 eastbound until reaching M27 junction 8

M27 junction 8 westbound to junction 4 - Travel westbound on the A27 until reaching Wide Lane
- Travel northbound on Wide Lane until reaching Leigh Road
- Follow Leigh Road westbound until reaching the M3 at junction 13
- Travel southbound on the M3 to join the M27 westbound carriageway

03/07/2025

Fareham Live named ‘Regeneration Project of the Year’ at South Coast Property Awards
Fareham Borough Council is delighted to announce that Fareham Live has been recognised as ‘Regeneration Project of the Year’ at the South Coast Property Awards 2025.

The awards, Hosted by The Business Magazine in partnership with Insider, were entered by Stride Treglown, one of the architects that worked on the redesign of Fareham Live.

The judges described the project as: "a brave, bold and significant expenditure with the ultimate aim of providing both community benefit and kick-starting urban regeneration in an existing town centre. It’s a development that provides both local and regional pride, whilst also bringing economic benefit to the area for years to come".

01/07/2025

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Local councils to undertake research ahead of finalising proposals for Local Government Reorganisation

Twelve of the 15 councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Fareham Borough Council, are working together to develop proposals for the new councils that will provide all services to their residents in future.

The government wants to change the current ‘two-tier’ council structure in most of the county, where residents have services delivered by both Hampshire County Council and district or borough councils. Three other areas: Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight; already have single councils, known as unitary authorities, that provide all local services.

Instead, the government has asked councils to propose how they could join their areas together to form new councils that would each be responsible for all local services in that area.

In response, Fareham Borough Council and the other 11 councils have been collaborating on developing options that would work best for their residents, businesses and wider community.

The other councils are Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, New Forest District Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Southampton City Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Wi******er City Council.

Together, the councils are working on options that would replace the current 15 councils with four new unitary councils on the mainland, keeping the Isle of Wight as its own unitary council as it currently is.

This approach is based on the evidence they have gathered that this number of councils, delivering all services in the areas they cover, would give the best balance of local decision-making and sustainable size for the total population of over two million people.

It would avoid options for fewer unitary councils that would mean some of them serving well over one million residents.

A key part of this work on the options will be understanding how residents, businesses and community groups feel about the changes and what area they think their future council should cover.

Engagement, through a feedback survey, has been launched across the council areas to gather views to help understand what matters most to people and shape how local councils work in future—so they reflect real places, local identity and culture, priorities, and people.

Each council must decide what they will submit as their preferred option to the government in September.

The survey will run from Monday 30 June until midnight on Sunday 27 July at from www.fareham.gov.uk/ourplaceourfuture.

29/05/2025

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR KERBSIDE WASTE COLLECTION & HOUSEHOLD RE-CYCLING IN FAREHAM

Fareham Borough Council’s Executive has approved plans that pave the way for 'Simpler Recycling' across the Borough to be introduced from March 2026.

As a result, the Council can confirm that:

Fortnightly household waste collections will continue as always. However, collection days may change for some households, and residents will be notified as soon as details have been finalised.
Free weekly food waste collections for all Fareham residents will be introduced from 30 March 2026. Fareham residents will be provided with an outside food waste caddy for kerbside collection, as well as a smaller kitchen caddy to collect food waste in the home.

There will be no change to materials collected for recycling in residents’ blue-lidded recycling bins until the new Materials Recycling Facility opens at the end of 2027.

Additional glass collection bins will be provided around the Borough for residents to take their glass waste.

The Council will continue to offer the Clip and Collect garden waste subscription and Bulky Waste collection services as usual.
Required under the Environment Act 2021, 'Simpler Recycling' aims to increase household recycling rates by making it possible for people across the country to recycle the same materials without needing to check what their council will accept. Fareham Borough Council is committed to increasing recycling rates and reducing the Borough's impact on the environment.

Unfortunately, wider recycling will take a little longer as Hampshire County Council’s current waste disposal infrastructure cannot process paper, card, metal, glass and plastics in a way that is compliant with the new Simpler Recycling requirements and so Fareham Borough Council cannot collect glass from residents' kerbsides without incurring significant additional costs.

The new food waste collections will increase the Council’s recycling performance from 37% to an estimated 55%. Kerbside glass collections would only deliver an estimated 1% improvement.

22/05/2025

Restoration plans for Holly Hill Woodland Park

Fareham Borough Council has announced that chartered landscape architect, Arkwood, has been appointed to lead on their plans for redeveloping Holly Hill Woodland Park.

The Holly Hill Rediscovered project aims to improve the functionality, sustainability and aesthetic appearance of the lakes and ponds within Holly Hill Woodland Park. Earlier this year, the Council announced it had received initial funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to progress their plans to apply for a full Heritage Fund grant at a later date. The 35-hectare site is made up of Victorian landscaped garden and parkland, set around a series of interconnecting ponds, lakes and water features made of Pulhamite stone, which need repair.

Arkwood, which was appointed following a successful procurement exercise, has considerable experience in working on projects of this nature.

Initial public and stakeholder engagement took place last summer to inform and support the Council’s Heritage Fund initial application. Arkwood will now lead the next step which is to bring as many views as possible into the design of the project through a series of in-person and online workshops, events and surveys.


Arkwood’s Project Director, Jon Sheaff, added: “I am thrilled that Arkwood has been appointed to the Holly Hill Rediscovered Project. Having completed many successful National Lottery-funded projects, we are confident that we can take this project from planning to completion, working alongside local people, the volunteers who love the site so much, key stakeholders and, of course, the Council which has invested so heavily in the site’s restoration. We look forward to getting started.”


About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

“Grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. ‘Holly Hill Rediscovered’ has initially been granted round one development funding of £111,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award.