A £1.8 MILLION scheme for a park and ride scheme serving Southampton biggest hospital has been met with support from local councillors.

On January 4, Southampton City Council is to commence work on the major facility for University Hospital Southampton.

Work will start at the Coxford Road/Lord’s Hill Way junction and will deliver a number of improvements for people travelling by bus, bike, taxi and car.

The scheme has been met with support from one Coxford councillor who said it was "great news" for the local area.

Councillor Diana Galton said: "I fully support the initiative. It is great news for the local area. It will mean regular, fast bus services from Adanac Park to the Hospital for staff and visitors and will hopefully reduce the parking impact on roads around the hospital.

"The new bus lane on Coxford Road is a great win win; speeding up buses and not impacting on other vehicle journey times."

Councillor Barrie Margetts added: "Although the road works will be a disruption for some months, I hope once it is finished it will improve traffic flow and increase the use of UHS park and ride scheme and reduce local stresses on traffic and parking.

"This is a busy junction and some residents have been critical of the scheme.

"The hospital is a hugely valuable asset to us in the area, and we are extremely grateful for the tremendous work UHS staff have done over the last year."

It will will create a new rapid bus lane, allowing buses, taxis and cyclists turning left from Coxford Road towards Lordshill to completely bypass the signalised junction at Lord’s Hill Way.

By taking left turning buses, taxis and cyclists away from the traffic signals, this will also improve journey times for all vehicles using the junction.

Standard bus services operated by Southampton companies City Red and Bluestar are set to benefit from the scheme as well as buses travelling from the NHS Trust’s new 1,000 space Park and Ride facility set to open at Adanac Park in mid-2022.

The works follow a consultation with the local community and will be delivered by the council’s Highways Partners, Balfour Beatty Living Places, over approximately 21 weeks.

To carry the works out safely, the northbound lane on Coxford Road will be closed from the junction with Greywell Avenue to the junction with Lord’s Hill Way/Lordswood Road.

This closure will be in place for the duration of the works, with a diversion route in place for people leaving the hospital wishing to access Lord’s Hill Way/M271.

The diversion route will be via Warren Avenue and A35 Winchester Road. Southbound access towards the hospital will not be affected.

Councillor Jeremy Moulton said: “University Hospital Southampton is accessed by thousands of staff and patients every single year, and this understandably has an impact on traffic in the surrounding areas.

"This scheme will greatly enhance the Hospital Park and Ride, supporting a reliable and efficient service that will enable more people to shift away from car use to access the site.

"The provision of a dedicated bus, cycle and taxi lane will also result in improved journey times for drivers in the area, representing a balanced approach which has been developed in close consultation with the local community.”