ANTI-commuter parking restrictions are to be extended further into a Winchester suburb.

The city council has confirmed various changes to parking regulations in Highcliffe.

For the first time residents-only parking will be created in new zones X2 and X3 covering much of the outer area of Highcliffe.

A report to the decision day by Cllr Martin Tod was recommending the plans for X2 and X3 be withdrawn, but Cllr Tod approved a partial extension to cover part of Gordon Avenue and Fivefields Road, and all of Nelson Road and St Leonards Road. The new zone X3 includes the outer stretch of Fivefields Road and Chalk Ridge, close to the M3.

A decision on the remaining X2 area has been deferred in order to monitor and assess the impact of the introduction of new restrictions.

In 'Old Highcliffe' where restrictions have been in place since the mid-1990s, streets such as St Catherine's Road and Canute Road, the restrictions will now run seven days a week and until 10pm and also include Dell Road. The new restrictions had widespread public support including a petition signed by 162 people calling for the expension to Sundays.

The opening of the new sports and leisure centre nearby in 2021 is focussing minds about parking. Residents saw a spike in commuter parking when the athletics stadium opened around 10 years ago.

Initial plans to create a new Zone X2 and Zone X3 stirred some opposition with a 2018 petition of 99 signatories from 80 households in Fivefields Road and Gordon Avenue.

A formal consultation in April 2019 attracted nine expessions of support and 24 objections. One resident of Milland Road stated: "I just can’t see why there needs to be a permit scheme other than to raise revenue for the council."

Traffic Regulation orders for the changes are now set to be made.