Residents slam Southampton traffic scheme outside school

Southampton City Council already closes Cutbush Lane in Townhill Park around school opening and closing times as part of its School Streets scheme, designed to create a "safe space" for children going to and from schools.

But the authority has extended the operating hours since January 2, restricting access to the road outside Townhill Junior School between 8am and 9.30am, and 2.15pm and 3.45pm.

It is in operation Monday to Friday during term time.

Residents on Cutbush Lane are restricted access to their cul-de-sac at certain times (Image: Newsquest)

While there are exceptions for the residents of the around 50 homes, who are asked to drive at walking pace with their hazard lights on, businesses located on the road, blue badge holders, medical transport vehicles and school transport vehicles, other vehicles such as visitors or deliveries will not have access to the cul-de-sac during those times.

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This is part of the council’s Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which could be made permanent after a public consultation which ends on July 2, 2024.

Resident Olivia Taylor said that elderly residents who live on the road rely on deliveries and family visits.

"We're being made to feel like prisoners in our own home," she told the Echo.

"What are we supposed to do?

The School Street sign restricts traffic into the cul-de-sac on Cutbush Lane (Image: Newsquest)

"The problem is more the parents than the children, there's never been any accidents in Cutbush Lane but when you're driving in and trying to get home the parents can be quite rude and more than once they've shouted at me even when it's them that are taking up the road."

The 75-year-old continued: "It's the side entrance of the school that leads to Cutbush Lane anyway, the main entrance is off of Meggeson Avenue over the other side, so why can't something be implemented over there?

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"Even if the council inserted a zebra crossing on the road. Nobody would have a problem with that."

“I think the council have done this without care and it will make it people less likely to want to visit.”

Jo Anne Omeara added: "There's 50 odd houses that will be affected by this and I don't think the council have actually been down here themselves to have a look.

Residents say they are prisoners in their own homes (Image: Newquest)

"There's a barrier at the other end of the lane preventing vehicle access and from the correspondence we've had with the council, they didn't actually realise it was a no through road.

"We had a TV delivered last week and what are we supposed to do if the delivery driver couldn't get in, carry it up the road ourselves?

"I'm sure this will be as much of a pain for the likes of delivery drivers as it will for us.

"My son works from home and often comes to our house. Where's he supposed to park if he can't get in as it's a busy main road?"

In a statement, a spokesperson for Southampton City Council, said: “Southampton City Council distributed letters to residents in the Cutbush Lane area in December 2023, informing them of the changes to the School Street.

“The School Street timings and access eligibility criteria have been brought in line with other School Streets in the city.

“The council has introduced the School Street on Cutbush Lane on a more formal basis through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order.

“This allows the council to monitor its effectiveness and consult the public before making a decision on whether to make it permanent or not.

“The consultation is now open and will close on the July 2, 2024.”