Southampton Itchen Labour MP John Denham has written to the City Council about the traffic "chaos" around Bitterne Park Triangle. expressing concerns about the effect on Triangle traders, and the safety of pedestrians.

The move came after he was contacted by one of the shop owners at the Triangle, which has been hit by road closures.



As previously reported on bitternepark.info, the current roadworks have led to long delays for motorists.  There is also no proper crossing provision for pedestrians.  Several roads are closed, including Bullar Road and Thorold Road, while others, like the busy Cobden Avenue, have alternate one-way traffic.  The first phase of the road works is expected to last for nine weeks.

John Denham said: “It does appear that the Council has given little thought to the small traders at Bitterne Park Triangle who are already struggling to survive in the face of competition from supermarket chains.  The actual roadworks seem to be some distance from the Triangle and so I’m not sure why such a wide area has had to be impacted.  I am particularly concerned that the pedestrian crossing lights at the Triangle have been suspended as this is a main route to and from school for many children.  

“The Triangle is unique in Southampton for the variety of small shops it offers and the Council should be supporting it and not making it harder for the shops to survive.  I would have thought that the Conservative City Councillors who previously stood as independent “Support the Triangle” candidates could have intervened to help stop this chaos.”

Richard Effeny, owner of Triangle Picture Framing and Art shop said business was definitely down because of the work: “It’s a disgrace. They close off the road and we suffer. But we won’t benefit from the works in Cobden Avenue. The only people who will benefit are Tescos.”

For details of the works see our earlier story following this link.

13 June Echo story, with comment from Cllr Dick, Cabinet member for transport, here