Bus passengers have praised plans for a new bus lane on Millbrook Road West.

Southampton City Council announced plans to turn the inside lane on Millbrook Road West into a bus lane last week.

The plans sparked controversy with many people in Southampton - but bus passengers in the city told The Echo it could be a worthy investment for the area. 

Deepak Dhiman, 36, from Millbrook said: “I have a car, but I prefer to take the bus so having a bus lane is good.

“I don’t think it will make traffic worse, because I haven’t seen much traffic in the city - so having a bus lane might help traffic go through well.”

Labour council leaders said the new bus lane will make use of the extra lane created as part of the Transforming Cities Fund work that took place three years ago.

A public consultation on both bus lane proposals is open until November 22.

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An anonymous bus passenger in Southampton said: "I actually think it’s a good idea and as long as its for taxis, buses – I think it will actually take quite a bit of traffic out, because the taxis will use the bus lane rather than going up and down.

“I think its actually not a bad idea to be honest, because a lot of people on Millbrook Road West drive like idiots anyway, they don’t stick to the speed limit.”

He added: "For me I actually think a bus lane might slow traffic down and make the road safer, and that’s why people don’t like it."

The subject of bus lanes on Millbrook Road West has been a contentious issue for several years with conservative Millbrook councillors arguing it will increase traffic in the area.

Joy Smith, 81, from Romsey, uses the buses in Southampton.

She said: “Well I’ve only been living in the area for four months, and each time I’ve got the bus its been fine, there’s not been a problem.

“But if there’s a bus lane, would it hold up other traffic, would it cause even more backlogs, do you see what I mean?"