COUNCILLORS have given their support to improvement plans for the A31 at Ringwood.

Highways England are proposing to add a third lane to the eastbound carriageway to reduce congestion and improve safety.

In a recent meeting New Forest District Council cabinet members approved the response set out before them supporting the works.

Highways’ plans include closing access onto the trunk road from West Street.

Ringwood Town Council recommended stopping direct access to the petrol garage just after the West Street slip road.

Cllr Jeremy Heron, who is both a town and district councillor, said he had concerns about the plans put forward by Highways.

“The role of the district is to support the town and the community how it can as this process goes on,” Cllr Heron said.

“It is an important road and the congestion is an issue which occurs on a daily basis.

“While these works address this issue on the A31, there is now going to be a local traffic knock on effect.”

“I am very sceptical about West Street being the major safety issue that is being put forward.

“The road is used for a rat run because of traffic on the trunk road.

“If the proposals are successful and there is no congestion, people will not need to rat run through the town.

“Either Highways don’t believe their own scheme will work or they are entering into a pointless exercise which will impact residents and the business community.”

The NFDC response to Highways England’s proposals written by chief executive, Bob Jackson, says: “Based on the proposed level of housing that is likely to come forward over the course of the Local Plan period (to 2036) there will be an increase of traffic in the area.

“However, recent transport modelling undertaken by the council to inform the evidence base for the Local Plan concluded that if the proposed works by Highways England area carried out then they will be able to fully accommodate future traffic flows.

“The district council hopes to work closely with Highways England to deliver these enhancements.”

The consultation process for the plans has now concluded and Highways will begin the process of drawing up detailed plans for the improvements.