MAJOR changes are coming for transport in Winchester with a new Park and Ride facility north of Winchester, less parking in the city centre and more cycle lanes.

The county council is asking the public for its views on the Winchester Movement Strategy in December and January.

The park and ride to the north of the city, off Andover Road, would be additional to the site which CALA Homes must provide as part of the Kings Barton scheme.

Cllr Rob Humby, executive lead member for economy, transport and environment at Hampshire County Council, approved the draft Strategy Action Plan, including the 10 proposed priority schemes for the next 10 years.

Cllr Humby said: “Since the Winchester Movement Strategy was first adopted in principle, we have been working with Winchester City Council and other partners to develop schemes which, if implemented, would help to reduce traffic in the city centre by expanding out of town parking capacity and providing new routes to encourage cycling and walking.

“The proposals emerging from the Movement Strategy seek to enable people to adopt more sustainable ways of travelling into and within Winchester. If agreed, the changes to the way roads and streets in Winchester are used would set a clear course towards a lower carbon, greener and healthier city.

"We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that any final plans make a positive contribution to the quality of life of those who live, work and visit the city, and support the city’s economic recovery. I need to make clear that these proposed measures are not funded at this time, so sources of funding to deliver them will need to be identified and bids for external funding made.”

The county council will also be seeking feedback on a Local Walking and Cycling Implementation Plan (LCWIP) for the Winchester urban area which will feed into Movement Strategy.

Cllr Martin Tod, the Cabinet Member at Winchester City Council responsible for the city’s involvement in the movement strategy said: "These proposals will help improve air quality in the city and make it a better place for people who live, work and visit there. I look forward to hearing people’s views.

"This is the right moment in the process to listen. It’s important that this is a ‘how to make it better’ consultation, not a rubber stamping or a referendum on the proposals."

Currently all the city's park and ride is in the south of the city, with the first sites opening in the 1990s. The one now proposed off Andover Road would be the first to the north.

Green campaigners say park and ride still encourages people to drive and call for more investment in public transport as well as walking and cycling.

Alongside the new park and ride initiative, there are also proposals for parts of the one-way system to be made two-directional including parts of Friarsgate, Upper Brook Street and St George’s Street.