A DECISION about traffic in Southampton is being watched with interest in Winchester.

Southampton City Council has decided to remove a pop-up cycle lane on Bassett Avenue by today, September 3 after it was shown to cause serious traffic congestion.

During the Covid lockdown Winchester City Council introduced similar measures on Jewry Street and Hyde Street, and sparked opposition from residents, with widespread complaints of unnecessary congestion even before the expected increase, once the schools return.

Cllr Martin Tod, Cabinet member, who pressed for the measures in Jewry Street and North Walls, said this week: “The city council and county council are actively discussing how the schemes can be improved and made better for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. I know that county council engineers are also looking at adjustments to make the system flow better. There’s certainly no plan to make the changes permanent in their current form. If they were to become permanent, it would only be with an improved design - and legally it couldn’t happen without further consultation.

“That said, there’s clearly still a need to support social distancing - particularly if there’s a second peak - and there are also opportunities to make the schemes work better. I drive the one-way system regularly to see how the system is working - and I’ve seen more and more people walking along North Walls. And that’s likely to increase as schools and the leisure centre reopen.

“Long-term, if we’re serious about improving the city’s air quality, there are going to be changes to the one-way system and more people will be accessing the centre on foot, by bike, by bus and through park & walk and park & ride. The drop in commuting means that it’s now much easier to park more cheaply in Worthy Lane and Chesil Street and walk into town rather than driving into the centre.”

The changes in Winchester have not been criticised by the opposition Conservatives, largely because the county council is also Tory controlled.