In a detailed post from April, Portswood’s Cllr John Savage (Lab) writes about his investigation into what he describes as the “blight” of HGV traffic down residential streets in St Denys.

Cllr Savage describes the issues as “really quite complicated”, and says they “need clarity”.

His article explores various aspects of use of the site at Kent Road, which is used by Southern Water for a treatment works that is currently being refurbished.

The site is also used by various other companies, and he assesses possible solutions in relation to transport.

Savage draws a number of conclusions as follows [quoted directly from the post, which you can read in full here]:

1. The council needs to designate this area as a light industrial centre capable of supporting only routine business traffic which has the capacity to successfully navigate the road under the bridges. A typical flatbed Luton style lorry is less than 8ft high.
2. Special construction management transport plans need to be agreed with local residents before developments for the Southern Water site are agreed. The issue of the barge movements needs to be investigated. While green alternatives around waste management are explored. The use of HGV vehicles through residential streets isn’t particularly “green” for those that have to live there.
3. We need to recognise that the roads affected cannot routinely sustain HGV vehicular traffic without on-curb illegal parking. Or perhaps that legal residential parking would preclude the ability of HGV vehicles to travel down Kent Rd without causing damage to parked cars.
4. Something needs to be done to improve traffic flow south on Portswood Rd and Thomas Lewis way and thence across the Itchen at Cobden bridge.
5. A plan might be to improve the Woodmill crossing.
6. Making the Kent Rd and Priory Rd areas a no-through road would help local residents but exacerbate the congestion at the various other intersections.

You can read the full post here.

Previously
Kent Road Action Group public meeting minutes
St Denys water project gets ‘excellent’ rating from Considerate Constructor Scheme
Temporary lights cause headache for drivers as signal controller 'totally destroyed'
St Denys: Survey counts cars jumping lights