Portswood Road: Council says consultation would be listened to

Widened pavements could replace the existing left turn slip from Portswood Road towards Highfield Lane

A scheme to pedestrianise part of a road could be scrapped if opposition is "overwhelming", Southampton's transport boss has hinted.

Southampton City Council has proposed turning parts of Portswood Road into a bus-only area with wider pavements.

Opponents have said it would create rat runs.

Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for transport, said he would not ignore the public consultation but added it was "not a referendum".

Under the plans, drawn up by the Labour-run council, parts of Portswood Road, from Westridge Road to Highfield Lane, could be turned into a bus-only area with wider pavements.

The parallel corridor of Thomas Lewis Way would be used to shift traffic away from Portswood Road.

It is estimated the plan would divert about 12,000 vehicle journeys each day.

A third consultation on the scheme has just finished - after the previous one about a year ago was deemed to be "inadequate" and "weighted".

The project is funded from £4.5m through the Department for Transport's Step Change initiative.

The left slip lane from Lodge Road to Portswood Road could be removed

Critics have said it was "impractical", would lead to anti-social behaviour and be worse for the environment. Almost 3,000 people signed a petition opposing it.

Speaking at a meeting of the council's overview scrutiny and management committee, Conservative opposition group leader Dan Fitzhenry said he would "scrap it immediately" if his party was returned to power.

Mr Keogh said any decision following the consultation would be "informed and balanced".

"My principle is it is important that we engage with residents on any decisions and they have a right to be consulted," he said.

"And if [it's] the overwhelming view of a consultation, I would never ignore the overwhelming view of a consultation - because that is undemocratic."

A final decision on the scheme is due to be made by the city council's cabinet on 16 January.