Roadworks chaos near Winchester Station may be over but there are more major works on the horizon.

Despite assuring motorists that the disruption was over, Hampshire County Council is now planning more "improvements" in Romsey Road - one of the main routes into the city centre.

A council employee, who did not wish to be named, said: "These proposals have the potential to create havoc on a scale which would make the mayhem at City Road appear a minor irritant."

He added that a "distinctly low-key consultation" had been carried out, with objections due in on January 10th.

Proposals currently being discussed would eventually involve traffic lights over the railway bridge at the top of the High Street and at the junction with Chilbolton Avenue.

But most changes would be cosmetic - moving bus stops, revising pavement layouts and laying new road surfacing.

"The main aim is to make it safer for people to use the footpaths. The time it takes to do the roadworks depends on what goes ahead. It might change quite a lot as a result of what people say during the consultation," said a council spokesman.

For that reason, too, the cost of the project was not known and nor was it possible to say if road closure would be required.

Already, between 1,500 and 2,000 people had attended seven meetings; the hospital, the prison and King Alfred's College had also been approached.

Initial roadworks, funded by the county's maintenance budget, could start as early as spring - but the new lights would not be installed until 2004.

With shops still reeling from the loss of trade caused by roadworks, Barbara Bryant, chief executive of the North Hants Chamber of Commerce, is calling for "a bit of common sense".

"The recent disruption really should not have been allowed to happen and it shouldn't be repeated, either," she said.

"We have agreed with the council that, in future, the chamber will be a fully participating member of the committees which make decisions on these issues."

City centre manager, Graham Love, said: "There's going to be quite a lot of capital invested in Winchester over the next three years. There will be two phases of work in Romsey Road, which is a major artery into Winchester and it's important that disruption is kept to a minimum. If I thought for a minute that it would result in road closure I would be deeply concerned, but I am assured it won't."

Plans may be viewed at www.hants.gov.uk/environment