A HAMPSHIRE county councillor has launched an outspoken attack on the authority's £76m plan to upgrade a busy commuter route.

Cllr David Harrison hit out at proposals to widen more of the A326, describing it as a hugely expensive project that would shave only a few seconds off average journey times.

Cllr Harrison also warned that the scheme would lead to more port-related development taking place, resulting in thousands of extra lorry movements.

Parts of the northern end of the A326 are already dual carriageway.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the county council is now planning to widen other sections of the route to improve traffic flow between Totton and Marchwood.

It coincides with proposals to double storage capacity at the 83-hectare Marchwood Military Port, now being run by a civilian operator.

Cllr Harrison, a member of the Liberal Democrat opposition group on the county council, represents Marchwood and Totton South.

Posting on social media he said: "I rather fear that supporters of the dual carriageway scheme are destined to be really disappointed.

"Firstly there's the financial cost of the road widening. It's at least £76m and that's before you compensate home owners who live near the road.

"Then there's the environmental cost. The road cannot be widened without considerable damage to habitats, including woodland that acts as a buffer between the road and homes.

"What will it actually achieve? The scheme being promoted does not dual the entire length of the A326, just a section from Marchwood.

Cllr Harrison cited the congestion likely to occur during months of construction work.

He added: "Once the dual carriageway is in place what will follow - thousands of extra lorry movements arising from new port developments the road construction has enabled.

"It's really hard to conclude that the average motorist, even the daily commuters, will be any better off as a result of this project."

Responding to earlier criticism of the scheme Cllr Rob Humby, the county council's deputy leader and executive lead for transport, said no final decisions had been made.

He added: "It is true the Waterside has enormous potential for economic growth of national significance and future decisions will be made, to that end, at a national level.

"Therefore, the scheme development and planning work we're doing now will put us in the best possible position to fully understand the impacts of growth and how this might be best mitigated."

A county council spokesperson said the figure of £76m included the cost of improving eight junctions on the A326.