The Portswood bus gate is the new Bitterne Road West single lane. It’s not going to work, and it’s hugely unpopular. It diverts traffic to side roads, and the cars sitting in logjams will chuck out fumes and affect air quality. It will also reduce visitors to Portswood, which will hit shops and businesses hard.
Instead of alienating residents, and ignoring consultations, the council must bring people on board about the need to reduce car use in our city.
It should look at smarter schemes and positive change that will be popular and make a real difference.
For example, the boardwalk between Northam Bridge and Horseshoe Bridge is used by more cyclists than you see in Portswood, and there are many pedestrians and e-scooters that use it too.
Yet it’s not maintained, it is full of flooded potholes and the wooden slatted decking is slippery and worn.
When someone removed some railings last year it was months before they were replaced.
Given how many people use the Boardwalk in its current state, if you actually spent some money on it, then I’m sure it would be one of the most popular cycle and pedestrian routes in the city.
Instead of installing cycle lanes that aren’t used, and bus gates that make people fume, why not give the Boardwalk a makeover, and look at other similar projects which residents will support and enjoy?
Yours sincerely
Jon Walters
Vespasian Road, Southampton
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