COUNCIL chiefs have approved a £436,000 plan to give one of Totton's busiest streets a major facelift.

The county council has devised a raft of measures to make the "run-down" Rumbridge Street area more attractive to shoppers and pedestrians.

One of the scheme's main aims is to cut the amount of traffic using Rumbridge Street by five per cent.

Highway bosses are also determined to prevent drivers flouting the 30mph speed limit as they come off the busy A35 and head for the town centre.

Engineers are planning to axe the slip lane leading off the A35 and redesign the junction.

A coloured surface will be laid at regular intervals along Rumbridge Street in a further attempt to persuade drivers to slow down.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Rumbridge Street will be made one-way between its junctions with Junction Road and Winsor Road.

With the exception of buses, taxis and bicycles, eastbound traffic will be diverted into Winsor Road, which will also be made one-way. The scheme has been approved by Jonathan Glen, the county council's executive member for spatial strategy.

A report to Councillor Glen said: "Rumbridge Street is suffering from the effects of underinvestment from both the public and private sector."

Work is expected to start next month.