WAYS to improve traffic access around Winchester for four wheels, two wheels and pedestrians were aired at the town forum.

Cllr Jim Maynard suggested making North Walls only one lane instead to two to allow for the pavements to be widened.

He also wants to see ‘cycle pods’ for the storage of bikes on-street and cycle refuges, areas at traffic lights, following on from the one at the top of Stanmore Lane.

Cllr Ian Tait criticised the North Walls idea: “It would not work, which is blatantly obvious to anyone who drives or walks down there. It is not the same as Jewry Street,” where the two lanes were narrowed to one several years ago.

Former mayor Chris Pines said much more should be done to improve the quality of the road surface as the poor surface directly effects fuel efficiency.

Cllr Robert Sanders questioned any measures of success saying it was still difficult to get across the city from north to south or from west to east.

Councillors were discussing the town access plan which was approved in 2011 and progress has been made, the town forum heard.

Several schemes have been completed such as the resurfacing of the High Street, The Square and Great Minster Streets; St James Lane-Airlie Road footpath; making the Black Path, Winnall, into a cycleway; 20mph limit in the city centre; better signing; relaunching Bikeabout; a pedestrian crossing on Andover Road near to Osborne School and railway station travel plan.

Some schemes have been dropped including a contra flow on St Johns Street.