by Val Laurent and Angela Cotton
Many may be aware that there is a proposal to close part of Portswood Broadway to traffic to make it a rapid Bus Corridor within the Southampton Mass Traffic System. The section between St Denys Rd and Westridge Rd will be a pedestrian area.
The proposal would only allow busses, taxis and cycles through, and many residents and traders alike have very strong views about this. Some traders in particular fear the loss of business. Traffic would be directed around the residential roads or on Thomas Lewis Way. Questions have been raised as to the viability of using Thomas Lewis Way, especially on football days or general emergency, and residents do not want traffic directed around their roads, so these matters require careful consideration.
Portswood is a busy and bustling shopping centre and, while some support the idea, 2,868 residents have signed a petition against it. Many of those attended a protest demonstration, expressing their views on keeping the Broadway open. Supporters believe that in time the reduced traffic will make Portswood a more pleasant place to shop.
The numbers on the petition triggered a debate in a full council meeting recently. The next step is an independent consultants review and a further consultation in the summer.
Nothing with happen until these processes are completed. Meanwhile, more information can be found at
transport.southampton.gov.uk/tcf/eastleigh-to-southampton-corridor/portswood-corridor/
Southampton City and Hampshire County Councils made a successful bid to the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund and were awarded £57m. The plans for Portswood Broadway arise from this.