CAMPAIGNERS in Totton have condemned the failure of a controversial multi-million pound bypass to ease traffic congestion in the town. Residents along the Salisbury and Ringwood routes are up in arms over the number of heavy vehicles failing to use the town's western bypass and choosing to travel through Totton.

They believe the bypass, built at a cost of millions and initially dogged by funding problems and delays, has failed to live up to original expectations with heavy goods vehi-cles persisting in taking the cross-town route into Southampton.

Salisbury Road resident Bob Craddock said: "When they built the bypass we were told we wouldn't see a lorry in Totton but they are still using the Salisbury and Ringwood roads.

"What niggles me is that they spent millions of pounds on the by-pass to get traffic out of Totton but it's like a ghost road."

Now the residents want to see new measures introduced to encourage traffic onto the bypass and out of the town.

Fellow Salisbury Road resident and Hampshire county councillor Edith Randall said: "I would like to see signs for the town centre amended with the word "only".

"I have seen it done in other places to great effect.

"I realise there are restrictions on what the county can spend but a few thousand pounds spent on new signs would greatly help the situation.'' County council spokeswoman Kate Hill said: "We are aware of the concerns and the council carried out a survey of the area in May.

"This involved counting the lorries and timing them to see whether they were delivering or passing through.

"When that data has been analysed we will be able to make a recommendation - a lorry ban or otherwise."

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