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Frustrated residents have resorted to filming traffic tailbacks and posting them on video-sharing website YouTube in a bid to get councillors to take action.A group of neighbours have formed a residents' association whose focus is to solve traffic problems in Leafy Lane, Whiteley. They say the residential road is being used as a rat run by motorists looking for a short-cut to Solent business park.
Recent traffic figures show an average of about 5,500 vehicles use the road every day. Steve Peters, of Cobham Grove, Whiteley, who sent in the picture above, said: 'This has been going on for years and people are just getting fed-up. 'They cannot get in or out of their drives, they cannot get in or out of culs-de-sac and they can't park in front of their own homes. 'We have got to get Hampshire County Council to accept it is a problem and then get them to do something about it. That is what the next step is. 'We are gathering evidence to present so they have no choice but to accept the problem exists.' Determined residents have also been taking photos at peak traffic times to add to their portfolio to present to Hampshire County Council.Leafy Lane resident Steve Reay, 54, said: 'It has become a lot worse and it can only continue to get worse in the future as the size of business park is going to double.'We have tried to come up with suggestions that would make the road less desirable for motorists.' Ideas include a rising bollard system so only residents can access the road, or opening up other access routes at Yew Tree Drive and Rookery Avenue. Cllr Mel Kendal, in charge of transport and the environment for the county, said he had asked officers to draw up a report on the situation.'It is a complex problem,' he said. 'We need to look at the situation in its totality rather than just trying to do something to solve the problems of people living in this road or that road, and until I have the report I don't want to discuss it in detail.' |