THE vision for transport in Winchester over the next few decades is set to be signed off by the city council on Monday.

The Winchester Movement Strategy lays out how traffic and sustainable transport will flow though the city and help ease congestion and pollution.

A draft document was unveiled in November, setting out the plans that have been worked out by Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council. It included:

  • increasing capacity for park and ride services;
  • giving buses priority over cars through measures such as bus gates in Southgate Street and Chesil Street, and bus lanes in Andover Road;
  • consolidating parking in larger out-of-city-centre car parks rather than increasing city centre spaces;
  • enhancing cycling and pedestrian routes across the city with a “reallocation of road space along the full length of North Walls”;
  • and changing parts of the one-way system.

If those measure fail to improve congestion in the city, a range of charging zones “could be considered”.

Now, the city council’s cabinet is set to debate the plan on Monday, March 25, before county chiefs consider it in April.

Jan Warwick, portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Our Movement Strategy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve air quality and reduce congestion in the city. We have already committed money in this year’s budget to make a start on delivering this important project.”

Cllr Rob Humby, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for environment and transport as well as a city councillor, said: “Our aim is to ensure Winchester continues to thrive while protecting the character of the city. We want to see a future where there is less traffic but more activity in the town centre, better air quality and more travel options for bus, walking or cycling.

“We’ve now completed significant consultation and data gathering to develop this strategy with a focus on increasing park and ride provision, improving bus services, enhancing the public spaces and putting in place measures to encourage more walking and cycling.

“I’m grateful for the people and groups who have taken the time to engage with us, and hope they will agree this is a bold plan for the future of Winchester.”

The latest step follows a public consultation on the document, which closed in January.

Green campaigners say the councils are pursuing contradictory policies, attempting to limit traffic in the city centre but maintaining the number of central car parks. They are calling for St Peter’s car park off Gordon Road to be closed. It was built in the 1980s and was initially intended to be temporary.