A MAJOR study of traffic and movement in Winchester is seriously out of kilter with several major development schemes, a meeting heard.

Former city councillor Patrick Davies said key decisions on schemes such as the new leisure centre were set to be made before the results of the study are known.

The city and county councils are analysing traffic in the city and how it will change up to 2031.

Mr Davies, a former leader of the Labour group and a longstanding campaigner for green transport since the 1980s, said: “What concerns me is the timing. The study will be ready next year. There are a number of major projects which are dependent on the outcome of that exercise, the air quality issues in the city centre, the Station Approach development, the revamped Silver Hill or whatever it is called, the new leisure complex at Bar End; all are dependent on the outcome of that study.

“This has put the cart before the horse. These issues are going to be determined shortly and at present we do not know what the traffic and movement study is going to say. Everything is back to front.”

Simon Finch, city council’s corporate head of service, said traffic engineers were running computer models analysing different scenarios, with the ultimate aim to reduce traffic in the city centre.

Mr Finch said the results of the study would go out to public consultation in November with detailed ideas emerging in 2019 towards a traffic strategy.

Liberal Democrat councillor Kelsie Learney said important decisions may happen before then.

“Central Winchester Rejuvenation may move the bus station, the leisure centre in Bar End is expected to increase traffic in that part of town.”