WAYS to improve traffic access around Winchester for four wheels, two wheels and pedestrians were aired at the town forum.

Cllr Jim Maynard suggested making North Walls only one lane instead of two to allow for the pavements to be widened.

He also wants to see ‘cycle pods’ for the storage of bikes on-street and cycle refuge areas at traffic lights, following on from the one at the top of Stanmore Lane.

Cllr Ian Tait criticised the North Walls idea, saying: “It would not work, which is blatantly obvious to anyone who drives or walks down there. It is not the same as Jewry Street (where the two lanes have already been narrowed to one).”

Former mayor Cllr Chris Pines said that much more should be done to improve the quality of the road surface, as the poor surface directly affects fuel efficiency.

Cllr Robert Sanders questioned any measures of success, saying that it was still difficult to get across the city from north to south or from west to east.

Councillors were discussing the town access plan, which was approved in 2011, and progress has been made, the town forum heard.

Several schemes have been completed, such as the resurfacing of the High Street, The Square and Great Minster Street; St James Lane-Airlie Road footpath; making the Black Path, Winnall, into a cycleway; 20mph limit in the city centre; better signing; relaunching Bikeabout; a pedestrian crossing on Andover Road near to Osborne School and the railway station travel plan.

Some schemes have been dropped, including a contraflow on St John’s Street.