Eastleigh residents will be urged to hop on the bus as part of a multi-million-pound strategy to prevent the town centre from becoming gridlocked.

Hundreds of homes are being built on the Pirelli and nearby Causton's site and it has left council planners with the major problem of finding ways of keeping traffic on the move.

Bus priority measures at junctions are at the forefront of a transport policy by Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Council which was unveiled over the weekend to shoppers in The Swan centre.

Transport chiefs are hoping that there will be an increased switch from car to bus travelling when the public see how buses are moving more quickly through the traffic.

Other proposals to boost bus appeal are:

New buses.

Improved bus stops and information.

Better waiting facilities.

Improved service reliability .

Reducing the problem of traffic congestion for buses.

Selective vehicle detection to give priority at traffic signals.

Eastleigh citizens will be able to have a big say on shaping the future transport strategy for central Eastleigh.

They are being invited to fill in a questionnaire by Friday, July 25 which covers a wide range of transport issues.

The aim of the strategy is to boost the town's economic prosperity, vitality and viability while improving the quality of life for local residents and visitors.

Although the focus of the strategy is on transport in Eastleigh town centre, the study also takes into account the bigger picture.

It also focuses on the impact of the wider transport network including the motorway, trunk roads, the national rail network and Southampton International Airport.

Eastleigh Local Area Committee chairman Councillor Steve Sollitt said: "It is clear that unless we take an overview of the total traffic impact of developments there is the potential for major traffic issues in the town centre, particularly at peak periods.

"The proposed Chickenhall Link Road will be a vital part of our traffic infrasture.

"In addition to this the council needs to look at other traffic issues in the town and not to allow development on the Pirelli II site to go ahead until solutions have been identified."