Southampton City Council has confirmed the next steps for a range of transport and neighbourhood improvements in Portswood and Highfield after carefully reviewing a first stage of feedback from local people gathered earlier this year.

We are committed to listening to and working with local people to shape future improvements. This first stage of consultation has given us a steer as to the challenges people face and the sorts of measures people would like to see to address them.

The responses from the community showed strong support for measures to improve road safety and address concerns about driver behaviour, while also providing further information on which previously trialled measures local people did not want to see retained.

As a result, the council is progressing plans for speed cushions and raised table on Brookvale Road, Russell Place and Abbotts Way, as well as moving forward with improvements around Highfield Church of England Primary School to support safer journeys to school and extending the local 20mph zone.

These improvements aim to make it easier and safer to walk, wheel, and cycle throughout the local area, including to Highfield Primary School and local businesses and will help the local community to thrive.

At the same time, following residents’ feedback, the council has confirmed that the modal filters previously trialled on Portswood Broadway and Russell Place will not return, while trial build-outs on Brookvale Road and Belmont Road will be removed.

As part of the next phase for the Highfield area and Highfield Primary School improvements, residents will be invited to comment on detailed proposals through formal consultations planned for later this year. The extension of the 20mph zone, having been through this formal process in April, will be introduced this winter.

The council is also continuing work to improve local walking and cycling routes, with Lawn Road resurfaced in June and further improvements planned for Priory Road to create smoother, more comfortable journeys.

In Portswood Broadway, in late summer, residents, visitors and businesses will be asked for their views on a range of short-term improvements aimed at making the area more attractive, welcoming and enjoyable to spend time in, helping support local businesses and strengthening the area’s character. For clarity, these proposals will not include traffic restrictions such as the previous bus gate.

Councillor Jacqui Rayment, Cabinet Member for Transport and Planning, said: “We want local people to know that we have listened carefully to what they told us earlier this year, and these next steps are a direct result of that feedback.

“Residents were clear that they wanted us to tackle speeding and poor driver behaviour, improve safety around the primary school and create streets that feel safer and more pleasant for everyone to use. They also told us which trial measures they did not want to see return, and we have taken those views on board.

“I would like to offer my thanks to local people for taking the time to share your views on travel and road safety with us and encourage everyone to take advantage of the next opportunities to get involved. By listening to residents and working together, we can deliver improvements that reflect what local people want to see in their area.”

By making it easier, safer and more pleasant to walk, wheel and cycle, the improvements help to meet the goals of creating a greener, healthier and growing Southampton where everyone can thrive.