Protest held against plans to pedestrianise Portswood Road

Angry residents and business owners marched down Portswood Road chanting “SOS! Save our shops” whilst clutching placards that read ‘don’t kill our local shops’ and ‘our community, our choice.’

Over 100 people took part in the demonstration on Saturday against proposals put forward by Southampton City Council.

READ MORE: Axing Portswood Broadway scheme could 'cost Southampton millions'

@southerndailyecho Residents and business owners from Portswood, #southampton protested today against the council’s plans to pedestrianise the area🛍️ More on this to come. #portswood #hampshire #protest #saveourshops ♬ original sound - Daily Echo

Event organiser Karen Edwards said the council’s plans to close the route to private vehicles would only “shift the problem".

The 57-year-old from Portswood said: “I am passionate about this area.

“The council is not listening. We have got 2,868 signatures, in print and online, for our petition against it.

“I am not against the area being green, but how can you move all the cars from here to somewhere else?

“You are just shifting the problem. If it goes ahead, getting in and out is going to be a 30-minute all-round journey.”

Martin Boorman was one of the many Portswood residents taking a stand.

The 65-year-old said: “The whole thing is ill-conceived.

“The ability for people to move around the city is diminishing daily.”

Jayne Blatchford (left) and Margot Eardley, with her dog Hector (Image: Maya George, Newsquest)

READ NEXT: Hundreds say Portswood Broadway closure would make area more attractive

Fellow protestor Jayne Blatchford, 62, said: “The idea seems lovely but unfortunately there’s nothing in place to support it.

“The traffic is going to be horrendous and it will impact the shops.

“And what about people with babies and disabled people? It’s not practical.”

The council wants to close part of the Broadway to cars to make the busy shopping street a ‘more attractive place’.

Buses and taxis could still pass, while there would be a bus-only section between Westridge Road and Highfield Lane.

The council has also proposed installing more zebra crossings, speed limits, and widened pavements.

But for Marissa Hazel, a British Heart Foundation shop worker, the loss of space for cars would have a negative effect on donations.

The 42-year-old said: “We, at the shop, are against it because it’s going to stop customers and donations as people won’t be able to drop them off.

“Putting a donation bank somewhere would cost us money, and some people like coming into the shop.

“We would also lose out on Gift Aid and that’s massive for us.

“It’s going to be a real struggle.”

Tory councillor Daniel Fitzhenry also attended the protest.

He said: “I am here to support the residents and businesses who are against Labour’s Portswood Road closure.

“As Conservatives, when we ran the council we stopped this plan. A lot of residents and businesses are very much against it.

“If we win the election in May, we will scrap it.”