PLANS to give Totton town centre a massive £22m facelift have again come under fire for failing to tackle the area's biggest traffic problem.

A local authority newsletter refers to the congestion caused by the Junction Road level crossing, but says there would be "no real merit'' in replacing it with a bridge or a tunnel.

Alan Weeks, vice-chairman of Totton's policy and resources committee, criticised the publication at a meeting of the town council.

He said: "We all know that the Junction Road crossing is the main traffic problem in the town. It's not good enough to say we recognise that - but we're not going to do anything about it.

"Totton is divided by a railway and the problem needs sorting out.''

Frank Bright, chairman of Totton's planning and transport committee, said: "Hampshire County Council is looking into it, but we all know the cost of doing anything at that junction. We're looking at an awful lot of money.''

Former town council chairman David Harrison said: "The newsletter was published in all good faith and will at least keep the debate going.''

Plans to transform the main shopping area include a town square at the junction of Salisbury Road and Commercial Road and a link road from Salisbury Road to Maynard Road.

The newsletter has been jointly published by Hampshire County Council, Totton and Eling Town Council and New Forest District Council.

It says a bridge or a tunnel at Junction Road would have a dramatic environmental impact on the town, involve the demolition of shops and houses and hinder attempts to reduce the amount of traffic in the town centre.

However, the explanation is unlikely to satisfy drivers caught up in long tailbacks at the crossing.

The gates are closed for a total of 20 minutes every hour - and the problem is likely to get even worse if Associated British Ports is allowed to build a huge container terminal at Dibden Bay.