HAMPSHIRE'S cricket chiefs will launch a new scheme to avoid traffic chaos around the Rose Bowl stadium over the summer.

But residents living near the cricket club in West End remain sceptical about the move following last year's disastrous traffic management of England's one-day international match at the ground.

County cricket chiefs have been under pressure from residents to put in place a travel plan after last September's 16,000 sell-out crowd overwhelmed the local roads and brought motorway traffic on the M27 to a virtual standstill.

The club has since set up the Rose Bowl Liaison Panel to work with local residents and county officials to avoid a repeat of the chaos.

Now the club has said it will set up three park-and-ride locations to the east and west of the venue and a new park-and-walk facility.

There will also be new shuttle services for bus and rail passengers and the police will supervise the traffic control measures.

Working with the community liaison group in addition to local councils, the Highways Agency, police and local bus and rail services, the club says travel plans will be part of the Rose Bowl experience for spectators in the future.

Rose Bowl chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "Our plan is to integrate that travel planning element into the total package. In 2006 this will include a full choice of travel options at the point of event ticket purchase, while, in 2005, spectators attending major fixtures at the Rose Bowl will be contacted and assisted in their travel plans."

However, West End residents are not so optimistic, saying that previous park-and-ride schemes and poor traffic management led to a disaster last time.

John Pilcher, of Botley Road, West End, said: "There will always be visitors who will try to get as close to the ground as possible and use the village as a car park."

Kerry Payne, chairman of the Telegraph Wood Residents' Association, said the news of travel plans brought hope to the community but more details on how the problems will be tackled are needed.

"If the Rose Bowl get the travel management sorted out it should be a lot better for the local residents," he said.