Green Transport Recovery Plan for Southampton approved

It follows a meeting attended by bosses at Southampton City Council, which provided overall approval of the Green Transport Recovery Plan.

Future of city’s controversial transport plan (including the new cycle lanes) put in doubt

The plan is a £4.1million scheme to make more space at bus stops, shops and other places where queuing may be necessary.

It also involves re-allocating road space and building temporary cycle lanes on Bassett Avenue, Hill Lane, The Avenue, and St Mary’s Road, as well as improvements to make it safer to cycle to Southampton General Hospital and in Portswood, and cycle parking in the city centre.

But some residents said it could cause “more traffic” and is an "accident waiting to happen".

While a resident wrote a letter to the Daily Echo saying it would decrease congestion over time.

New cycling lanes in Southampton have had a 'major impact' on residents

City bosses said they have had a “range of views” about the new travel plans.

Councillor Christopher Hammond, Leader of the Council, said: “At the end of May, we launched our draft Green Transport Recovery Plan which set out how we would trial a range of transport measures to support social distancing and greener travel in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This once in a generational opportunity is about offering people more choice in how they can safely move about the city in a more sustainable way. These are bold and ambitious steps which generated a range of views.”

Some of the schemes that have already been delivered include widened pavements along Portland Terrace and temporary cycle lanes on both The Avenue and Bassett Avenue.

“Following this, we will now be implementing the next stages of our plans, including at Bedford Place and for the School Streets scheme in Southampton.”