Victory in campaign to unclog Coxford's roads
22nd January 2007
A two year campaign by Southampton Test MP, Dr Alan Whitehead, and community activist, Don Thomas, has finally resulted in Council action to reduce the pressure on Coxford’s roads. Councillors have agreed to Dr Whitehead and Don Thomas’s demands to take steps to protect local residents from the mass overflow of traffic spilling out from the General Hospital and clogging up residential streets.
Following a deputation from Don Thomas and other Coxford residents in November 2006, Southampton City Council announced that the Coxford Resident’s Parking Scheme is to expand through the removal of many double-yellow lines in the area.
Commenting on the proposals, Dr Whitehead said:
“This expansion will ease some of the burden on Coxford’s streets. But we all know the only way to manage the amount of traffic in Southampton in the long term is to improve the quality of our public transport links. That’s why I’m lobbying the government to give Southampton the power to get a better deal from bus companies and possibly introduce an ‘oyster card’ system similar to what is now available in London.”
Don Thomas added:
“I’m glad the council has finally taken action, but this decision should have been taken a year ago. Many people have already concreted over their gardens just to have somewhere to park. We need stronger action to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Residents living near Southampton General Hospital have found it increasingly difficult to park in their own streets due to a higher influx of traffic visiting the General Hospital. Dr Whitehead and Don Thomas have campaigned for over two years to improve the protection of residential parking places in the affected streets and to improve public transport links servicing the hospital.
Over 500 households responded to a survey conducted by Dr Whitehead about residential parking near the General Hospital. Responses overwhelmingly highlighted the problem of visitors to the General Hospital parking in neighbouring residential roads. Dr Whitehead published the results of his survey in January 2006, calling on the council to make three changes to improve parking for residents in the area:
- Expand the ‘no parking at any time’ zones in certain narrow roads, especially near the Aldermoor Health Centre
- Extend the Coxford Residents’ Parking Scheme
- Develop a park and ride scheme that stops off at the General Hospital
More information
- The Council agreed to Dr Whitehead’s first proposal in late 2006. The original press release about the extensions of parking restrictions near the Aldermoor Health Centre can be read here
- The results of Dr Whitehead’s survey on parking near the General Hospital can be read here
