A Disaster of Road Narrowing in Chandler's Ford

When our bins in Seymour Close, Chandler's Ford weren't collected over Christmas and the New Year, I didn't appreciate where it would lead.  It has put the spotlight on one of many bad planning decisions by Eastleigh Borough Council, and why we must have a change in May. Our quiet little close was deemed too congested for the dustcart to enter, due to too many parked cars.  So what is the Council going to do? Cause more congestion!!

Turn left out of our close and left again and you enter Bodycoats Road.  A few years ago its junction with Oakmount Road was narrowed - despite our protests.  Until that time there had been two lanes for traffic to leave Bodycoats Road - but they narrowed it to just one, causing very long tailbacks.

Now, as parked cars exacerbate the situation, the Council has made an order to paint double yellow lines for 48 metres back from Oakmount Road, almost to the junction with Warren Avenue. Where will all the displaced parked cars go?

Bodycoats Road leading from Oakmount Road.

Our normally quiet little close

The problem facing drivers as they enter Bodycoats Road from Warren Avenue. Double yellow lines will certainly ease traffic flow, but where will drivers park?

The junction of Seymour Close with Warren Avenue, looking towards Bodycoats Road.  Toynbee School is just down Bodycoats Road to the right and parents park here both morning and afternoon.

Warren Avenue looking the other way

As things stand, traffic congestion will be somewhat eased by the parking restriction.  But cars that can no longer be parked in Bodycoats Road will have to be parked in both Warren Avenue and Seymour Close - thus restricting access to large vehicles:

• Emergency vehicles
• Refuse vehicles

Unfortunately, the consultation period for the implementation of the parking restrictions ended on 13th December, two weeks before we had our problem with the bins, so I have been unable to make representations.  However, It comes up for consideration at the Chandler's Ford Local Area Committee meeting at the Dovetail Centre, Chandler's Ford on Wednesday 22nd January at 7pm.  

Since the double yellow lines will cause such a big problem there is only one solution:

Widen Bodycoats Road at its junction with Oakmount Road to permit two lanes of traffic to enter the major road, so traffic turning left is not blocked by that turning left. 

It will be argued that that is expensive and also that there will still need to be some parking restrictions, but the problem with the bins has shown exactly what will happen - and widening the road to its original width will prevent that.  And buses will no longer have such difficulty in negotiating the junction.

UPDATE 20TH JANUARY

I have just discovered that the bins weren't collected around the corner in Ashley Gardens, so this really is a major problem.