The council has announced the controversial bus gate in Portswood is to be “suspended” from Thursday (May 15), due to “unintended effects on surrounding roads”.
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Signs are due to be removed on Thursday, after which the road will be open to all traffic.
A “six-month or longer” trial of the part-time restriction on Portswood Road between the St Denys Road spur and Westridge Road began at the end of January.
But it has been curtailed apparently due to “concerns around road safety and congestion” on some surrounding roads, particularly Brookvale Road.
In March following a petition and protest council cabinet member for environment and transport Cllr Eamonn Keogh said the trial would not be scrapped.
Today the council said: “...following a comprehensive three-month review and feedback from local residents, Southampton City Council is suspending the bus, cycle and taxi-only restriction”.
The authority said in a statement: “The decision is based on the latest independent monitoring, which shows reduced vehicle traffic and increased pedestrian activity on Portswood Broadway, positive indicators for the local environment. However, the same assessment has also identified a significant rise in traffic along nearby residential streets, including Brookvale Road, which raises concerns around road safety and congestion.”
Portswood bus gate protest in March
Cllr Keogh said: “Our approach has always been rooted in evidence and safety. We’ve used this trial to test the real-world impact of changes designed to make Portswood Broadway a safer, more attractive place to travel and spend time. The data shows that while the intended benefits are emerging, we must address unintended effects on surrounding roads. We are grateful to all residents and business who have taken the time to contact us to share their experiences with their thoughts about the trial.
“We are acting decisively to relieve that pressure while continuing to explore long-term improvements. The council will work closely with residents in the coming months to understand why expected traffic patterns, such as use of Thomas Lewis Way, have not materialised. This engagement will help shape the next phase of the project, including possible new measures to protect residential roads and improve overall traffic flow.”
The scheme drew criticism from many over increased traffic on neighbouring streets and an apparent impact on local businesses, while others had concerns the revised version might not go far enough to deliver lasting change.
14/5/25 The headline was amended to reflect the fact that the council has said the scheme is suspended rather than scrapped