ONE of Hampshire's most notorious roads could be widened with the next two years.

Ringwood Town councillors met with representatives from Highways England on Monday to discuss the plans, which would see the slip road onto the A31 westbound from the Salisbury Road roundabout widened by an extra lane.

This lane would then continue alongside the dual carriageway to merge with the existing multi-lane section before the Ashley Heath roundabout.

Mayor Michael Thierry said the plans were "welcome".

"I would like to congratulate Highways England for coming forward with a scheme which will have a benefit for the people of the town," he said.

"The town council are stakeholders in this process and we have a reputation for being very vocal about this scheme.

"This extra lane is a commitment, although there is still a great deal of discussion which needs to take place."

Councillors also discussed the scheme at a full council meeting on Wednesday where they heard the work is anticipated to take place within the next five years, however Cllr Thierry said it could be completed sooner rather than later.

"Highways England will work up the scheme and have a consultation exercise with a view to the scheme possibly being completed within two years," he said.

The scheme is one of 100 announced by the Government in late 2014 which will be funded with a total budget of £15 billion.

A spokesman for Highways England said it was not currently on their list of priorities, as determined by the Government, for schemes to be completed by 2020.

"There isn't a specific date, this is not within the current delivery plan we have been tasked with," he said.

"The Government come up with the investment strategy we have to deliver."

The agency is due to work with Ringwood Town Council on carrying out a consultation on the plans, particularly on whether West Street - another outlet from the town to the A31 - should be closed, partially closed or left open during the works.

This is expected to take place in the autumn of this year.