We are thoroughly monitoring the trial and the first of our monthly traffic data reports will be released shortly the monitoring has shown that the number of cars using Portswood Road has fallen since the bus/taxi/cycle only restriction was implemented The monitoring has also shown that pedestrian numbers along Portswood Broadway have increased during the first week of the trial compared to the week before While many drivers are complying with the new restriction the council has made the decision to introduce enforcement measures for the bus/taxi/cycle only section as the monitoring has shown some continue to pass through during the restricted hours Our experience with other schemes that introduced a restriction show that compliance improves with camera enforcement This change is crucial to ensure the robustness of the trial and to support the goals of improving bus journeys as well as safety on Portswood Road Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport said: “There are a number of goals that we are trying to achieve as part of the Portswood Project trial and a key factor in many of them is ensuring that vehicles travelling from further afield to the city centre use Thomas Lewis Way for their journey “We do appreciate that it takes time for people to get used to changes like the ones being trialled in Portswood and so we have allowed two weeks for drivers to adjust to the new restriction without taking any further action we will be issuing warning letters in the first instance to anyone who passes the new bus/taxi/cycle only restriction to ensure people are aware of the restriction and after that we will issue fines if individuals continue to pass the restriction despite having received the warning letter.” Once the camera enforcement on Portswood Road starts on Monday 10 February people who drive through the restriction will receive a Warning Notice and on their second contravention they will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days) Warning Letters and PCN’s will be sent through the post to the Registered Keeper of the vehicle To allow enough time between a Warning Notice being processed and received by the driver there will be period of approximately two weeks after a Warning Notice being activated and a PCN being issued All money received from Penalty Charge Notices will be used to pay for the upkeep and running of the camera system and any surplus funds are reinvested into Southampton’s transport network as set out in national legislation Following concerns raised from local residents adjustments will be made to parking on Brookvale Road near the junction with Highfield Lane This will help ease congestion and improve road safety around the junction Additional monitoring of Brookvale Road will be carried out as part of the trial process The Portswood Project aims to deliver improvements in this key travel corridor that support the delivery of the Local Transport Plan: Connected Southampton 2040 and the goals of the Southampton Citizens’ Climate Assembly This follows the consultation on the Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and other regulatory notices which took place in October and November 2024. This initiative alongside the introduction of Active Travel Zones (ATZs) in neighbouring streets aims to make Portswood District Centre a more attractive and vibrant destination which can be more easily reached via public transport and active travel The part-time bus/taxi/cycle-only section of Portswood Road will be between the St Denys Road spur and Westridge Road It will operate Monday to Saturday at peak times between 7am and 10am in the morning and between 4pm and 7pm in the evening with both the bus/taxi/cycle-only restriction and ATZs introduced on a trial basis for at least six months as well as private car parks such as those at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s will remain accessible to those who need to drive to visit Portswood Road the project aims to improve bus journey times and reliability improve road safety and encourage people to spend more time and money in the District Centre and statutory service vehicles such as gritters are permitted to use the restricted section of Portswood Road a new loading bay is provided on St Denys Road spur and access will be maintained northbound through the bus/taxi/cycle restriction for large vehicles over 7.5 tonnes The trial is being thoroughly monitored to understand any impacts on traffic and movement on the Portswood Road as well as on the local economy and community A monthly report will be published on the council website summarising any traffic changes during the trial “We welcome this scheme and hope it will speed up journeys on Bluestar 2 We also hope it will deter inconsiderate parking of cars at key bus stops “Our team is expecting these changes to have a positive impact on our services and will be working closely with the council throughout the trial providing feedback on levels of traffic and journey times.” Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport “I would like to express my thanks to everyone who has taken part in the public consultations on the Portswood Project as well as the members of the local steering group that has helped guide the project’s progress to this stage We are conscious of the wide range of views that have been submitted through the consultations and these have informed the decision to trial the scheme “We appreciate that this trial represents a significant change for the local community and we will be monitoring its effectiveness throughout The project is expected to deliver significant benefits wheeling and cycling and improvements to air quality and the overall environment for people who live The Portswood Project aims to deliver improvements in this key travel corridor that support the delivery of the Local Transport Plan: Connected Southampton 2040 As part of our monitoring and evaluation programme for the trial, we promised to publish a monthly assessment of the readily available traffic data. The summary for 27-31 January has been made available on the Portswood Project page on Connecting Southampton Local people’s views are very important and they can submit their feedback throughout the trial via the Portswood Broadway and Portswood Active Travel Zone consultation page on Connecting Southampton We are regularly reviewing the comments we receive alongside the traffic data to assess where adjustments may be required alterations have been made to parking on Brookvale Road near the junction with Highfield Lane to help ease congestion and improve road safety around the junction We will also be carrying out extra monitoring on Brookvale Road and a review of the signage along Portswood Road an independent Road Safety Audit will be carried out at the junction of Brookvale Road and Blenheim Avenue after half-term to assess the changes made and consider whether further adjustments are required These actions are all part of a phased approach to the trial which allows us to make incremental changes to individual areas to address concerns highlighted by local people and the monitoring data We want to create a more attractive and safer Portswood improving bus journey times and improved facilities for cycling and walking more pleasant environment for everyone living We also hope to see an improvement in air quality and the environment in road safety and accessibility for people walking or wheeling and in quality of life for people who live the project aims to help make Portswood District Centre a more attractive vibrant and competitive economic destination so people spend more time and money here This will be considered in the six-month report comparing with baseline data from the previous year We will continue to meet with the Portswood Project Steering Group comprising representatives of local residents' associations and report back throughout the trial period The steering group was established in 2024 as one of the avenues through which local people could help shape the final designs of the Portswood Project schemes following our previous consultation exercises in 2020 2022 and 2023 which took the different parts of the project from options through to plans The trial will run for at least six months an independent consultant will prepare a report after three months which will be made available to the public A further report which will present information on the impact on Portswood’s economy community and travel habits will be carried out after six months “We have a robust plan for the monitoring and evaluation of the Portswood Project trial and would encourage local people to keep talking with us Your feedback will help highlight areas that need closer scrutiny such as at Brookvale Road and will enable us to assess issues and make adjustments to balance the interests of individual areas and roads.” The Portswood Project aims to deliver improvements in this key travel corridor that support the delivery of the Local Transport Plan: Connected Southampton 2040 and the goals of the Southampton Citizens Climate Assembly As part of our monitoring and evaluation programme the council commissioned an independent Road Safety Audit which is due to conclude in the week commencing Monday 10 March After hearing from local people about the ‘give way’ priority buildouts on Brookvale Road the Audit team has provided interim advice which together with the feedback from local people has informed the decision to remove the ‘give way’ priority buildout near the mini roundabout We have also been in discussion with Highfield C of E Primary School about road safety and in response to the issues raised we will be lowering the speed limit on Church Lane to 20mph to improve safety for children “We are listening to the feedback that we receive from local people and businesses and while we do need time to gather further evidence and assess the issues raised we will continue to make adjustments to the trial infrastructure such as at Brookvale Road and also implement new measures such as at Church Lane to address concerns and improve safety.” The Portswood Project aims to regenerate and make Portswood District Centre a more attractive and provide more space for people walking and wheeling with improved connectivity and road safety The trial should improve bus reliability and journey times and the availability of different transport modes These proposals have been developed following extensive consultation with the Portswood community and with advice from a local steering group The proposed part-time bus/taxi/cycle-only section will operate Monday to Saturday from 7-10am and 4-7pm Both the bus/taxi/cycle-only section and active travel zones  (ATZ) will be introduced on a trial basis for at least six months to assess the impacts An independent consultant has been appointed to undertake the project monitoring In addition to the bus/taxi/cycle-only section of Portswood Broadway As part of this process, we are consulting on Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and other regulatory notices which can be viewed at Transport Southampton. Alternatively, hard copies are available in Portswood Library, October Books, or Gateway in the Civic Centre The consultation will run from Friday 25 October to Friday 15 November 2024. Feedback can be submitted at Transport Southampton or in writing to the Highways Legal Team at Southampton City Council Please quote the specific title of the public notice you are commenting on to enable us to accurately record your views “The introduction of this priority scheme will allow our vehicles to traverse Portswood Road at peak times ahead of private cars - ensuring our services are more frequent and reliable here “Currently 21 buses from Bluestar and Unilink - our partnership with the University of Southampton - run along Portswood Road per hour The Portswood Project will not only improve the experience of passengers travelling by bus along this route it will also contribute to a cleaner environment across the area “I would like to thank Southampton City Council for having the foresight to introduce these significant measures - and for engaging with us whilst designing the scheme.“Alongside this project bringing new low emissions buses to the Bluestar 2 route “Thanks to our strong partnership with both Southampton City Council and the University of Southampton we have the chance to embrace green and efficient public transport in Southampton now and for many years to come.” “We appreciate that there are strong feelings within the Portswood community both for and against the proposals which is why we are progressing with this trial which will provide more evidence to inform future decisions “I would like to thank all the people who have engaged with us on the proposals so far for their commitment to making Portswood the best place it can be and encourage anyone yet to do so to join in and let your voice be heard We will continue to work with residents’ associations traders and other representatives of the community to monitor the implementation What's on in and around Bitterne Park >>Free listings for not-for-profit events. List your event here >> Follow us on Bluesky Photo: supplied.Fire crews extinguished a woodland fire at Frog’s Copse on Monday evening (May 5) not far from homes by the local green space Years of bumps and puddles may soon come to an end with potholes set to be repaired on an access road by Riverside Park Local Democracy ReporterThe search is on to find a new operator to run council-owned leisure facilities in Southampton while the authority considers its long-term investment plans Reach local readers and back community news: promote your product or service on bitternepark.info today, book online in minutes...>> The council has granted conditional approval to redevelop a site to the rear of Thorold Road with a two-bedroom detached dwelling with parking While thousands of people across the country will cast their vote in local elections this week residents in Southampton will be sitting this one out.Photo: LDRS Plans to demolish an existing log cabin and replace it with a residential annexe have been conditionally approved Bitterne Park Primary says that the aparent closure to the public of the fenced area of Riverside Park behind the school during at least part of the Easter holidays was an ‘oversight’ Sunday roasts and a summer-ready veranda planned are in place as Southern Water deal with an emergency on Bitterne Road East  A new children’s play park has opened in Bitterne Precinct • Delayed Bitterne Precinct revamp set for unveiling communal bins and new collection vehicles all on the menu as city gears up for 2026 food waste collection deadline A new urban green space and play park is set to open this week which Southampton City Council said would 'revolutionise' Bitterne Precinct Drivers are being warned of a one-day road closure in St Denys as carriageway repair works take place on Priory Road next Monday (April 28) MP Darren Paffey (Lab) has launched his own petition calling for a banking hub for Bitterne following the news last year that Lloyds and Halifax will also be closing their local branches in June Work to repair the pontoon in Riverside Park – closed to the public since early 2023 - is finally expected to begin on Monday (April 14) Riverside pontoon hauled out for repairs A carnival with a ‘mission to bring joy and happiness’ will be returning to St Denys on spring bank holiday (Monday A new partnership has been announced between TriFest who will be running the music side of this year’s event An application has been lodged to demolish property including a former public house on Portswood Road which could eventually become student housing A private SEN school has been granted conditional approval to demolish a pair of semi-detached cottages A Southampton councillor has called for the speed at which 20mph zones are introduced across the city to be increased may lead to lane restrictions or closures over the coming months The Friends of the Itchen Estuary has called for public discussion and consultation over the future of the Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre given concerns that it could be sold Friends of Riverside Park (FORP) volunteers got digging to plant around 30 new trees awarded by The Woodland Trust The city council (SCC) has announced that Active Nation which has been running leisure facilities across the city and Places Leisure will be stepping in to run facilities Council leaders have been accused of “secrecy” over the assets they are looking into selling.Photo: LDRS The council “is fully committed to keeping Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre open as a facility for water activities and community use” according to a cabinet member which it's claimed is causing “widespread chaos and misery” Top Arts and Culture | Music | Interviews | Airport This website uses cookies to manage authentication you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device View Privacy Policy Site content © 2005-2025 Bitterne Park's local website - bitternepark.info unless otherwise stated Please contact us if you wish to use our content The trial has already seen a reduction in private car use on Portswood Road, according to early monitoring data. Pedestrian numbers along Portswood Broadway have also increased since the restriction was introduced. However, despite many drivers complying, some continue to pass through during restricted hours. enforcement cameras will be activated to improve compliance first-time offenders will receive a Warning Notice Any further breaches will result in a £70 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) Warning Letters and PCNs will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle There will be an approximate two-week gap between a Warning Notice and a fine to allow drivers time to respond Funds raised from PCNs will cover the maintenance and operation of the camera system with any surplus reinvested into Southampton’s transport network in line with national legislation In response to concerns from local residents the council will also adjust parking near the Brookvale Road and Highfield Lane junction to ease congestion and improve safety Additional monitoring will take place on Brookvale Road as part of the trial said: “There are a number of goals that we are trying to achieve as part of the Portswood Project trial and a key factor in many of them is ensuring that vehicles travelling from further afield to the city centre use Thomas Lewis Way for their journey Receive all the latest newsEmail JoinThanks for subscribing Home About Us Contact Us Advertise with us TaxiPoint T&C's Privacy Policy The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers All written and image rights are reserved by authors displayed Creative Common image licenses displayed where applicable Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited All written content Copyright of TaxiPoint 2025 Advice on dealing with waste and keeping your pipes clean Learn how to manage water issues and save water Dealing with and reporting flooding and leaks We provide various building and development services to help you complete your project and get you connected to the network We’re here to help you get your development connected to the public water supply We’re here to help you get your development connected to the public sewer network Here’s what to do when you’re in the early stage of planning water and wastewater solutions When installing new water mains for your development you can go through us or use a self-lay provider (SLP) how they operate and how to make a bulk supply or discharge application Learn more about our connection charging arrangements for when you need to connect premises to the public water supply or a public sewer We provide a range of commercial services across our region You can learn more and enquire about them here we have 31 reception sites that can accept a range of domestic and commercial waste Trade effluent is any liquid waste discharged into our sewers from a business or industrial process on a trade premises When you need a supply of water outside our normal service you can hire a standpipe from Water Services We provide a complete biosolids recycling service for farmers through our contractor ACS Here you can access all the information you need about our retailer commitment We want your experience with us to be simple and straightforward Here you'll be able to find useful information and links for water retailers Trade effluent is any liquid waste (effluent) discharged into our sewers from a business or industrial process Every year the population of the South East grows but the amount of available water remains the same Learn what your business can do to save water Here you can find all relevant documents for wholesale charges and the timetable of settlement dates Here you'll find all the latest information on what's happening in our region including our current Pathfinder projects Here you can view our latest environmental reporting on bathing water quality Here you can view our investment plans for 2020-2025 These will help us to improve and protect our region's water environment Here you can access our latest water level figures from our main sources - groundwater Find out what we're doing to tackle this challenge Here you can learn more about us and our ambitions and the people organisations and policies that underpin our business Here you can view or download both the latest and previous reports on our financial and non-financial performance Here you can find more information and access our latest reports about our environmental performance medium and long-term plans for protecting our environment and ensuring our water supplies With over 2,000 employees delivering essential life services to more than four million customers there is a role for everyone at Southern Water Read more about what we're doing to give back to our communities and customers and how we can help you too Here you can read more about our Board of Directors and their experience Find out what's happening in your area,reported incidents and planned works More than £8m of improvements to a Southampton wastewater treatment works are helping to protect the River Itchen and its salmon population Work began in February on upgrades to our Portswood site aimed at improving the quality of treated final effluent entering the neighbouring chalk stream.  the site treats over 15 million litres of wastewater from Southampton – but this total can more than quadruple when it rains and surface water runs into our sewers.  teams have added a new treatment process on site called ferric dosing and have been adding extra oxygen to watercourses to support the local environment.  we will have added a giant new storm tank capable of holding back increased flows during rainfall – stopping it from being released into the environment as storm overflows We expect this will play its part in reducing storm overflows from the site.  are renowned across the world for their chalk stream habitats and annually attract a population of Atlantic Salmon to their waters.  We have been working hard with a range of partner agencies including the Environment Agency and other partners to protect and enhance water quality in the area.  Since the work began it has helped to reduce odour complaints from the local community and we are closely monitoring the health of the Itchen.  “We’re keen to play our part in improving the health of this much-loved chalk stream and its Atlantic Salmon population and that is why we are investing in major upgrades to our Portswood site.  “We are one of numerous guardians of water quality in this area and we support a shared aim of creating bathing waters or ‘blue spaces’ in the lower Itchen Only by working together can we achieve the progress we all want to see.”  The storm tank is being built by GtB who are also supporting Southern Water on a number of other key projects to treatment sites across its region.  said: “This is a really exciting project and one of many in the Southampton area  We have a number of constraints that we’ve had to overcome and I’m proud that we have done so These include dealing with existing buried structures and working close to the River Itchen “We’ve also had to reduce the number of vehicles travelling back and forth along the same road to reduce the impact on our neighbours “Regrettably there will be some disturbance by these works and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused to those people living in the area” These works include building new storm tanks and adding extra layers of treatment BN13 3NX. Copyright © 2024 Southern Water Company number 2366670 - Registered in England and Wales The 17 district centre car parks which serve the Bitterne Shirley and Woolston District Centres have the free 2-hour parking period removed and the charging period extended from Monday to Saturday 8am - 6pm to Monday to Sunday 8am – 8pm The changes will be implemented on Tuesday 1 April 2025 Like all car parks where there is frequent demand it is important to ensure that the spaces don’t become dominated by any one user or group of users which could exclude other visitors A bench marking exercise was carried out to review similar retail areas across the region both within large urban areas and smaller towns and districts the tariffs have been kept at a competitive rate in line with the city centre and other local towns The table below shows the new tariffs for each car park: Council officers will monitor and review the parking demand and footfall within the district centres between April and September to assess the impacts of the changes to the parking tariffs and charging periods “We have listened to the consultation and have reduced the period for charging from midnight to 8pm and we will be working with local schools close to the district centres to ensure drop off and pick up is not adversely impacted This additional income does support our spending on home to school transport which has increased significantly in recent years concessionary bus fares and the upgrade and maintenance of our highway network “I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and gave us their feedback We appreciate the strength of feeling of residents and as a result of the comments received have made adjustments to the proposed tariffs We will monitor usage over the coming months and review the tariffs if required”.