A ROMSEY street that has been used as a “rat run” for months could be transformed into a one-way system to help reduce congestion.
Residents living in Portersbridge Street have seen more cars using the road as a cut through after The Hundred temporarily shut to traffic on July 1.
The Hundred was closed to help people socially distance by providing more space for pedestrians and cyclists, Hampshire County Council confirmed.
County councillor for Romsey Town, Mark Cooper, said Portersbridge Street could become a temporary one-way system as part of a consultation launched by the county council to improve The Hundred’s temporary closure.
This comes after the council secured a £3.28 million green recovery bid from the Government to revamp roads and high streets across the county, with the aim to improve social distancing.
Cllr Cooper said: “Some of the older houses in Portersbridge Street have their front doors on the pavement and the street is very narrow, so it is unfair for residents to put up with the road being used as a rat run.
“That is why the county council is proposing to make it a one-way system, so the no access point will be from the west where Church Street is, because that is where most of the traffic comes from.”
Cllr Cooper added letters should be sent to town centre residents from Monday with the news, and then people can have their say on the plans until March 14.
He explained: “The red and white barriers would be taken out and planters would be put where the Market Place and The Hundred meet to help narrow the road.
“The Hundred would also be closed with planters where the road meets Latimer Street.”
He stressed because it is a temporary closure, residents living in The Hundred will still be able to park near their properties.
A document from the county council states delivery trucks will still be able to serve businesses in the road, as there will still be parking spaces available. The local authority added there will be signs alerting drivers to the closure, believing the impact will be “minimal”.
It said in 2016 there were, on average, 230 vehicles per hour travelling along The Hundred.
Deputy leader of Hampshire County Council and executive member for economy, transport and environment, Councillor Rob Humby, confirmed the proposal was for a temporary switch to one way traffic on Portersbridge Street.
He added: “An online survey will be available from noon Monday, February 15 until midnight Sunday, March 14 2021 to seek feedback and obtain people’s views to inform the development of the proposals. “We look forward to seeing people’s feedback.”
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