PLANS to give Totton town centre a multi-million-pound face-lift will make it a place to be avoided, it has been claimed.

The warning has been issued by a member of New Forest District Council - one of the three local authorities that have devised the scheme.

Tory councillor Derek Tipp said some of the proposals would make Totton even more of a bottleneck.

He said: "The plan claims to create a 'place to go, rather than a place to go through'. My fear is it may become a place to avoid altogether."

Cllr Tipp referred to the huge problems of congestion caused by the Junction Road level crossing and people visiting the Totton branch of Asda.

"The planned link road from Salisbury Road to the Maynard Road roundabout will simply add more traffic and make the problem worse," he said.

"It is also proposed to make Testwood Lane one-way below Stannington Way, preventing vehicles from reaching the town centre. Doing this will push yet more traffic on to the link road."

Cllr Tipp, who represents nearby Copythorne, also hit out at plans to axe 120 car parking spaces.

The long-awaited scheme has been drawn up by Hampshire County Council in conjunction with the district council and Totton and Eling Town Council.

Totton town clerk Derek Biggs expressed concern about some of the proposals in a report to the town planning and transport advisory committee.

He said: "There are a number of issues relating to traffic flows, congestion control and parking availability that need further investigation and discussion to ensure the final scheme is viable."

Tom Russell, the district council's Cabinet member for economy and planning, has issued a statement praising the plans.

He thanked the 1,500 people who visited an exhibition of the scheme at Totton Civic Centre and made their views known to council chiefs.

"Their contributions will help streamline the plans," he said.