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| David Harrison & Alan Weeks - concerned about traffic in Junction Road |
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Motorists travelling through Totton who get stuck in traffic are to be encouraged to switch off engines. The two County Councillors for Totton, Alan Weeks and David Harrison have been pressing for a long term solution to the build up of traffic in Junction Road. Studies have shown that the train gates are down for up to 20 minutes in every hour, causing long tail-backs of frustrated motorists.
Both Councillors favour a bridging solution to keep traffic moving, although not necessarily in Junction Road. County Officers are being asked to look at alternative ideas. In the meantime, the area around Junction Road has been designated as an Air Quality Management Area. This requires the local authority to constantly monitor air quality and take appropriate action to improve matters.
The County Council have agreed to erect special signs that will urge motorists to switch off engines whilst they wait at the train gates. The signs are currently being designed and will shortly be erected either side of the level crossing.
Councillor David Harrison, who is also Chairman of Totton & Eling Town Council and a New Forest District Member, says "Parish records show that the train gates were a problem discussed by Councillors over one hundred years ago. I have been urging the County Officers to get these signs erected as soon as possible in the hope that motorists will realise the harm that they are doing to the environment by keeping engines running. It is a low-cost, short-term measure which will do some good".
Councillor Alan Weeks says "The possible introduction of a new Waterside Passenger service makes it all the more important that a longer term answer be found to congestion at the train gates. We need to make Totton town centre a much nicer place to live. Improving air quality and getting traffic flowing will make a big difference".
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