As someone who works nearby to and commutes through East Park Terrace, I was dismayed and bemused by the attitude and response of Cllr Lorna Fielker and Cllr Eamonn Keogh, as well as the end results which frankly lack common sense.

This is nothing new: the council has continued to wage a ‘war on motorists’ and residents to disproportionately benefit students and non-residents, all while wasting the funding awarded from the Transforming Cities Fund that could have been used more effectively.

The comments about using roads “in the right way” is a fallacy which is analogous to comments providing justification for increasing tolls on the Itchen Bridge - to try and dissuade motorists from making journeys using this route and to only use this route if they absolutely must.

It financially punishes residents, businesses and leads to more pollution and petrol consumption from commuters using alternative routes to avoid paying the toll.

In this case it is much the same, motorists have endured the disruption from the months of road works and now need to spend more time, money and effort to use alternative routes which inevitably become bottlenecks as demand increases.

Calling this road a “rat run” I believe is an incorrect assessment and would love to understand how this conclusion was reached.

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Southampton is well known for creating misery for those having to drive through it due to the over-reliance on lanes and traffic lights.

The original road was used by an estimated 10,000 vehicles per day, versus an estimated 2,000 that the council estimates will now use this route, being taxis and buses.

These 8,000 vehicles now need to use other routes which will become congested.

The original road layout had traffic lights, safe and defined verges and pavements and was a straightforward route for vehicles.

It was always accessible for pedestrians and had links to the park already - this has not changed.

If students and pedestrians are not capable of using traffic light crossings, road users are not capable of following the rules of the road and driving safely.

I would understand this point, alas I fail to believe or accept this is the case.

Accidents are possible on any road, this does not justify stopping all regular road traffic and seems to be an extreme conclusion to say that safety is a major factor in this development without evidence or a history of seriously poor safety compared with other areas.

This another example of poorly thought-out decisions that seemingly have not had thorough consultation or consideration of residents/ commuters.

I am not alone in my opinion on this matter; I have witnessed and heard plenty of (mostly negative) feedback on the development and result for residents of East Park Terrace.

The council needs to understand that they cannot be proud of worse road conditions at the expense of residents and expect them to be happy with it.

We have seen many examples and doubtless more will come until the negative attitude against motorists ends.

Sam Wright 
Peartree