CAMPAIGNERS battling to make a Winchester road “safer and more accessible” have handed in their petition to a civic chief.

Residents want improvements at Oliver’s Battery Road and have gathered 309 signatures in an online petition at 38degrees.org.uk.

They say the underpass is barely useable and action needs to be taken to make safer the junction with Badger Farm Road.

Norma Goodwin, Julia Stolle, Lucinda Graham and Max Priesemann presented the petition to county councillor Rob Humby.

Mr Priesemann, who lives nearby on Oliver’s Battery Road South, is the Green Party candidate at the forthcoming city council elections.

The petition includes suggested improvements:

• Speed reduction to 20 mph,

• Remove the steps on the southern entry to the underpass or if impossible due to the gradient consider closing and refilling the underpass to create more space for a safe junction,

• Build a traffic light junction (or roundabout) with priority for cyclists and public transport,

• Create a bus lane from the Sainsbury’s to the Pitt roundabout (westwards) and better turning for busses into Oliver’s Battery,

• Enable easy cycle routes along Oliver’s Battery Road, down Badger Farm Road to Sainsbury’s and down the Ridgeway to St Cross.

Cllr Humby thanked the group and agreed to look at required changes to promote more sustainable transport solutions, encourage active forms of travel and reduce car journeys.

Mr Priesemann welcomed the shift of focus towards people’s needs of their health and wellbeing as well as taking action to limit climate change.

“While the measures included in the Active Travel Fund are linked to short term goals subject to the ongoing pandemic, there is a greater need to find better alternatives for the public to travel to Winchester from surrounding villages and towns,” he said.

“Therefore, changes to Badger Farm Road junctions are desperately needed.

“Since its construction, Badger Farm Road has divided Oliver’s Battery and has contributed to the shift towards car use. We are concerned that building works for an M3 extension will amplify the negative impact of car traffic to residents in Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery.”

The campaigners say the underpass with many steps on the southern side discriminates against people with limited mobility.