A CONTROVERSIAL traffic scheme could be given the red light after scores of angry motorists branded it dangerous.

An experimental one way system under the railway bridge in Station Road and Hill Road in Portchester could be replaced with traffic lights under new plans.

The road has been narrowed and the pavement widened to make it safer for pedestrians, with priority now given to motorists coming towards the A27.

But ward councillor Roger Price claims that the bridge obscures a clear view of oncoming traffic and that an accident is waiting to happen.

Locals say that at peak times large queues of downhill traffic are forced to wait for up to five minutes causing tempers to flare among motorists. Cllr Price has tabled a motion to install traffic lights at the problem site.

He said: "It's not working and I'm getting inundated with complaints from the public saying it's dangerous.

"I support the widening of the pavement which was necessary to make it safe for prams and buggies. But this is an accident waiting to happen."

Andrew Daw, 34, a resident of Hill Road, said: "You hear arguments all the time between drivers and you hear screeching brakes as they try to stop in time.

"Something needs to be done but the problem with traffic lights is that if the queues start stretching down to the A27 roundabout it will cause problems."

A 94-year-old resident of nearby The Hillway said: "The queues of traffic mean that it sometimes takes me five minutes to pull out into the road.

"Traffic lights might be the answer.

"Traffic has been slowed down by the new system which is a good thing and the pavements are safer."

The motion will be debated at the Planning and Transportation Overview Panel on November 11.