Roads that were limited to 20mph to support the Portswood bus gate scheme will stay at this reduced speed despite the trial's suspension, Southampton City Council has confirmed.

In a statement to the Echo, Councillor Eamonn Keogh confirmed that some works completed to support the trial will stay in place "by their nature".

This includes the "resurfacing and relining of the road" but also the 20mph limits that were put in place to "support the Active Travel Zones".

The news comes a week after the council U-turned on the hugely controversial bus gate, taking down signage and stopping fines on May 15.

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The Echo previously revealed that a total of £1,089,982 was spent on the scheme as of March 19, with £503,279 being used on permanent measures that would be left in place “if the trial is to be stopped”.

A budget of £500,000 was originally allocated from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund solely for the trial elements of the project.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh said: “Even though they were delivered as part of the Portswood Project trial, there are certain works at Portswood Road that, by their nature, were permanent including the resurfacing and relining of the road at the Portswood Broadway, the sections of high friction surfacing, bus stop enforcement cameras and the new and enhanced larger bus shelters."

Two sets of enforcement cameras were installed, one set to monitor the bus gate as a temporary fixtured tied to the trial and another to enforce parking restriction at bus stops.

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Cllr Keogh added: "The 20mph limits to support the Active Travel Zones will also remain beyond the trial.”

Speed limits on roads around Portswood Broadway were slashed following a Road Safety Audit during the trial.

Southampton City Council also worked with Highfield CE Primary about road safety and lowered the limit on Church Lane to 20mph in response to issues raised.

Highfield CE Primary acting headteacher Rachel Bond said in the letter: "We have received reports from concerned parents about the traffic situation in the area, where there were reportedly severe traffic backups, with drivers becoming increasingly frustrated.

“We are especially worried because Brookvale Road is heavily used by children walking to school, and the heightened traffic makes it a more dangerous environment for them.”