A West End resident has slammed traffic calming schemes in the village by saying the measures have only made things worse.

A number of new additions have appeared along the main road through the village including the placing of mini roundabouts at junctions on Botley Road.

Rob Sawyer, 45, a marketing manager who travels from his home in West End to work in north Hampshire, said: "There are four mini roundabouts now, which are ridiculous. People don't seem to know how to drive around them."

Motorists often cut through the village to the supermarket and stores at Hedge End Retail Park in Tollbar Way.

"Quite often you'll find drivers stopping at each entry to the roundabouts, not sure who should go first, before all trying to emerge at the same time," he said.

"Can that really be safer then an old T-junction?"

Mr Sawyer also criticised some of the road schemes designed to reduce the speed of drivers along Moorgreen Road, saying they actually make things worse.

"They have also tried to narrow the road at points along Moorgreen Road and routes heading to the motorway junction.

"They're like chicanes that are supposed to slow people down, but drivers just speed up on approach to get through them quicker.

"I've yet to meet anyone around here who think they are a good idea," he added. West End Councillor Neville Dickinson defended the traffic calming measures throughout the village and said they have significantly reduced the speed of traffic.

"The speed through the village was terrible and the mini-roundabouts are forcing people to slow down while allowing traffic to filter through, when there were junctions, drivers had trouble coming out and now everybody has to give way to cars on the right.

"I'm also a great believer in the chicanes on Moorgreen Road, as I think they are helping to slow down traffic," he added.

West End parish clerk Laura Cooke said: "People do complain about the roads, but they are forcing drivers to slow down, which is necessary here."