Calls to end town road closure ‘chaos’

Janet Burnage said shutting the key route had led to other nearby roads becoming “clogged” with traffic.

Her damning verdict on the closure, which started on July 1 in a bid to help people socially distance by providing extra space for pedestrians, comes as calls grow to reopen the road.

At a recent Romsey Town Council planning meeting, on February 25, councillors unanimously agreed in a discussion the scheme should be stopped.

• Pensioner blasts plans to keep The Hundred shut to traffic

A Hampshire County Council consultation on traffic measures in Romsey has proposed keeping The Hundred closed and to create a one way system on nearby Portersbridge Street, which has also led to fears from residents about a new “rat run” route.

This is intended to ‘improve’ the closure of The Hundred but Romsey’s mayor believes it should simply be scrapped.

Ms Burnage said: “The Hundred being closed has not worked, it has clogged up Cherville Street, which is effectively a single lane, because there are cars parked on one side of the road. When you have a lot of traffic going down it that causes problems.

“With people who live in Middlebridge Street, their houses are directly on the pavement and they have no respite from the cars going past.

“It has been nice to have The Hundred closed and wander up and down there, but it is the chaos and confusion it causes.”

Janet Burnage

• Angry residents slam plans for main road to remain temporarily shut

Mark Cooper, a county and town councillor, also has concerns about The Hundred staying shut, especially with pupils heading back to school.

In a letter to Cllr Rob Humby, the county council’s executive for transport, Cllr Cooper said: “March 8 saw The Romsey School back in full operation. This will have a major impact on traffic generation at each end of the day and the quality of life of residents will be further impacted if we keep The Hundred closed and Portersbridge Street one way.”

Like the town’s mayor, Cllr Cooper also has concerns about the plans for Portersbridge Street, given how the route has been handled so far.

Mark Cooper

As reported, the Advertiser has heard from residents of the street who feel it is already a “rat run” because of The Hundred closure, even before any one way plans are considered.

Ms Burnage said: “Even though no access signs were put in Portersbridge Street, I know people are still using the road as they have admitted it to me.” While Cllr Cooper added access only signs had proved “ineffective”.

• One way system could end town 'rat run'

Visit www.hants.gov.uk to have your say on the county council’s suggested traffic measures.

The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday.