Southampton: Hill Lane, Shirley High Street to go to 30mph

Parts of Hill Lane, Paynes Road, Romsey Road and Shirley Road are set to have their restrictions bumped back up to 30mph.

Days before the local election on May 2, leader of the council Lorna Fielker said that 20mph limits on Hill Lane and Shirley High Street were “not working” and that it was her “intention to look to go back to 30mph.”

READ MORE: Southampton 20mph speed limits won't be scrapped imminently

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While changes are now being made in proposed plans, only parts of the roads named will have their limits reversed. 

Hill Lane will only go to 30mph between junctions with Burgess Road and Bellemoor Road, while Shirley Road will be changed between junctions with Millbrook Road East and Howard Road.

Shirley Road will change to a 30mph limit at its junction with Howard Road and remain that way until the junction with Millbrook Road East. (Image: Newsquest) The Paynes Road slip road to Millbrook Road West will be changed and Romsey Road will see its restriction bumped up between junctions with Winchester Road and Anglesea Road.

In proposed plans, Hill Lane will remain 20mph between Bellemoor Road and Commercial Road.

Millbrook Councillor Jeremy Moulton said not enough is being changed. (Image: Cllr Jeremy Moulton)

Millbrook councillor Jeremy Moulton said he supports the change back to 20mph but the partial nature of them is "silly".

READ MORE: New 20mph limit zone considered for Southampton city centre

Cllr Moulton said: “My view all along is that 20mph should be for quiet residential roads, and main arterial routes should be 30mph.

“I think Hill Lane should be 30 all the way up, but with what is currently proposed, limits are going to be changing continuously and I think it’s a bit silly.”

Cllr Moulton argued that while driving up Hill Lane and Shirley Road, drivers will have to switch between 20mph, then tackle 30mph, then switch back to 20mph once leaving the affected zone.

Cllr Moulton added: “The council went a bit overboard and now is rowing back, but they are doing it in a partial manner, which is just going to confuse people and prolong changes to other areas.”

A public consultation lasts until January 3.

Councillor Fielker said: “We are seeking further feedback from local people on these specific areas following comments received during the election campaign earlier in the year which have been considered alongside initial speed monitoring data for the 20mph limits in the Shirley and Freemantle areas.”