Hampshire councillor calls M3 plans 'excellent news for Romsey'

As previously reported, a major revamp of M3 Junction 9 received approval from transport secretary Mark Harper MP.

Cllr Mark Cooper, county councillor for the Romsey Town ward, welcomed the news, saying that this will give him the opportunity to ask HCC to downgrade the A3057 from being a designated lorry route.

Cllr Cooper has stated his desire to downgrade the A3057 from being a lorry route before, most recently after a lorry got stuck while trying to drive under the bridge on Greatbridge Road.

Cllr Mark Cooper (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “The news that the junction improvements on the M3 with the A34 are to take place is excellent news for Romsey.

“At present, the A3057 north-south route along Alma Road, Malmesbury Avenue and Duttons Road is a county-designated lorry route.

"For many years I have campaigned to have this status downgraded. The county council has always refused to remove the lorry route designation because of congestion at the M3/A34 junction.

"The route through Romsey is seen by the county as a valid alternative route between Southampton and the Midlands.

"Once the new M3 junction is completed there should be absolutely no reason to have a designated lorry route through Romsey.

“Local lorry traffic will remain, but we should be able to eliminate the through lorry traffic. I have formally requested the County Council to remove the designation as a preferred lorry route the moment the new M3/A34 junction is completed.”