New road humps in Priory Road won’t be ‘cycle friendly’; there will apparently be no improvements for cyclists on St Denys Road as a result of Sainsbury’s plans; and there will be no continuous route from Portswood to Bitterne Park. Lindsi Bluemel asks why opportunities to create ‘joined up cycling routes’ are being missed…

On 17th March 2011 the council circulated a Proposed Traffic Regulation Order which would see road humps installed for the whole length of Priory Road north of the junction with St Denys Road. These humps are not of a "cycle friendly" design and I have spoken to Barbara Thomas of the Highways Department asking why they are thought to be necessary. It seems that there is a speeding problem on this road with vehicles taking short cuts to/from Portswood Road to avoid the lights at the Thomas Lewis Way junction

Southampton Cycling Campaign has pointed out that Priory Road is the recommended (and well used) cycle route from Bitterne Park and St Denys to the University. We intend to object to the design of the humps (although not the humps themselves) as we had an assurance from Councillor Dean in February that there would be no more "cycle unfriendly" infrastructure installed in the city. Others who wish to object should write to Mark Heath, Solicitor to the Council, Southbrook Rise, 4-8 Millbrook East, Southampton SO15 1YG by 11th April 2011.

Barbara Thomas also said that there are no improvements for cyclists on St Denys Road included in the Sainsbury's plans, which have been passed. This is a blow for local cyclists, especially those from Bitterne Park who will have to use St Denys Road to access the new store. The cycle lanes running east from Adelaide Road are very useful and well respected by motorists; it had been hoped that some of the "development money" would have been earmarked to extend these lanes west to the junction with Portswood Road.

Southampton Cycling Campaign has requested that the Cycling Officer, Dale Bostock, attends the next meeting to explain why cyclists' needs appear to have been ignored by the planners. Anyone interested is welcome to the next Campaign meeting at 7.30pm on 11th April at the Friends Meeting House in Ordnance Road.

Cobden Bridge plans have been passed and it is regrettable that the opportunity to create a continuous cycle route from Portswood Rd to Bitterne Park incorporating the existing lanes and the proposed lanes on the bridge has been missed.

Lindsi Bluemel