COUNCIL chiefs in the New Forest have ordered a study into the environmental impact of proposed improvements to the area's busiest road.

Hampshire County Council is drawing up plans to make a raft of alterations to a 9km stretch of the A326 between Totton and Dibden.

The A326 is used by 30,000 vehicles a day - but most of the route is single carriageway.

If the upgrade goes ahead an existing section of dual carriageway will be extended to include the stretch between the Michigan Way and Cocklydown roundabouts.

Other proposals include an extra southbound lane below the point where traffic leaving Totton joins the A326 - a junction known as the Hounsdown Fork. Improvements to two Marchwood junctions - Staplewood Lane and Twiggs Lane - are also planned.

Now New Forest District Council has ruled that the multi-million-pound scheme must be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment.

It follows the publication of a county council report which describes the proposed improvements and their potential impact on the surrounding area.

The report says congestion on the A326 is set to increase as a result of proposals being drawn up by "nationally significant infrastructure assets" such as Fawley refinery and Marchwood Military Port.

It also refers to Fawley Waterside Ltd, which is planning to build 1,500 homes on the old power station site, and the district council's new Local Plan, which could result in 1,900 new homes springing up along the Waterside corridor.

The report says the proposed improvements to the A326 mean a "relatively small amount" of privately-owned land will be required at several locations.

Addressing the environmental impact it adds: "Without mitigation there are likely to be significant effects as a result of dualling the northern section of the A326 and carrying out improvements to the junctions south of Hounsdown Fork.

"The potential landscape effect will be the impact on the New Forest National Park and the loss of roadside vegetation that currently creates an important green corridor.

"The introduction of street lighting along the dual carriageway should be discouraged. It would have a significant adverse effect on the national park dark skies initiative."

The county council has applied for funding from the Department for Transport.

Cllr Rob Humby, executive lead member for economy, transport and environment, said: "The aims are to increase capacity for all modes of transport, improve crossing provision and minimise the environmental impact of the scheme."

The county council has already embarked on improvements to A326 between Dibden and Fawley.