CONTROVERSIAL PLANS to create bus lanes on two of the South's busiest motorways, have been revealed.

But the scheme has come under fire from motoring organisation bosses.

The government is reported to be considering banning cars from one lane on stretches of the M3 and the M27.

The idea, which follows a three-month trial of the scheme on the M4, is to persuade travellers to use public transport instead.

But it is feared drivers, still reluctant to switch to unreliable rail services, will just divert off motorways.

Ten roads nationwide including parts of the M25 London orbital road and the M32 at Bristol are also being considered.

The AA said the plan, if implemented, could lead to the spectre of huge bottle-necks in towns as motorists diverted to avoid slow moving traffic on motorways.

Regional spokesman Rebecca Rees said: "The government will say the bus lane experiment on the M4 over the last three months has been a success with buses get-ting to their destination quicker.

"But we know for a fact that motorists are making long diversions at the moment just to avoid the M4, some of them as far round as the M3."

"It is all very well saying buses are getting to their destinations quicker but the truth is half of them are empty.

The leader of Winchester City Council conservative group Cllr Fred Allgood said: "It's all part of the attack on motorists, to make us feel guilty at having a car.''

But the move has received backing from Hampshire County Council Labour group transport spokesman Mike Roberts.

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