A new petition has been launched calling on the council to “evaluate” a section of Manor Farm Road for traffic calming measures.
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The call is for Southampton City Council to evaluate “Manor farm road Bitterne triangle” [sic] for “physical traffic calming measures” including possible pedestrian crossings, additional signage, and “speed regulation tools”.
“Over the past year alone, our area has witnessed several near-misses with vehicles often exceeding speed limits, and numerous collisions showing a glaring disregard for pedestrian safety,” reads the petition description.
“The current lack of adequate traffic calming measures is not just a minor oversight; it poses a real threat to our community's wellbeing.”
Ward councillor Phil Webb (Lab) said councillors have been advocating for traffic calming measures along Manor Farm Road, and that consultations have gone out previously in relation to the School Streets programme.
Manor Farm Road by Bitterne Park Primary School
“We’ve requested [permanent] vehicle activated [speed] signage as part of our Member Minor Works [funding] and I will be passing on this particular petition for comment to the cabinet transport member,” he said.
As reported, in February a consultation about creating safer streets for children travelling to Bitterne Park Primary School took place to give parents a say on the issue.
In 2023 temporary vehicle activated signage was installed near the primary school on Manor Farm Road: Webb suggested at the time signs can prove effective in slowing down drivers.
And as extensively reported, there were various requests for 20mph limits to be introduced in various Bitterne Park roads including Manor Farm Road in early 2022.
Manor Farm Road by Bitterne Park Primary School
A 93-signature petition calling for a 20mph speed limit for the street was submitted as part of that process. Responding at the time to the petition the council said that beyond initial areas selected, others would be individually consulted up to the end of 2023. It’s unclear whether any such consultation has since been initiated for the Bitterne Park area.
At a full council meeting on March 25, councillors were told that the eastern side of the city had been neglected in the introduction of 20mph zones, as a Sholing resident called on the city to improve safety in Middle Road and White’s Road where she said 130 residents had signed a petition calling for action.
The latest petition about Manor Farm Road is here – with 71 signatures at the time of writing.