Part of controversial road trial axed after feedback

Part of a controversial road scheme has been axed following feedback from the public.

The give-way buildout on Brookvale Road is part of Southampton City Council's Portswood Project to reduce traffic in the area, whilst making it safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

But the authority said following feedback and an independent audit, the buildout would be removed on Wednesday.

It added the speed limit on nearby Church Lane would also be lowered to 20mph (32km/h) after discussions with Highfield C of E Primary School.

The give-way priority buildout between Winn Road and Blenheim Avenue had initially been installed in January alongside various measures in Portswood.

A council-commissioned Road Safety Audit, which is due to conclude next week, has been evaluating the safety of the various measures.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, the authority's environment and transport chief, said: "We will continue to make adjustments to the trial infrastructure such as at Brookvale Road and also implement new measures such as at Church Lane to address concerns and improve safety."

The wider Portswood Project has proved controversial, with council leaders facing growing pressure over the bus gate scheme at the centre of the trial.

Two separate petitions have attracted hundreds of signatures calling for the scheme to be scrapped.

The six-month trial, which started in January, means only buses, taxis and cyclists are permitted to travel at certain hours on stretches of Portswood Road.

Southampton City Council's Conservative group has called on Mr Keogh to resign over the scheme.

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