Residents have told us they want to live on safer, more pleasant streets with fewer drivers speeding on their roads. If plans are approved, transformation to streets in a Southsea neighbourhood will start later this year.
What is an Active Pompey Neighbourhood?
An Active Pompey Neighbourhood is an area with safer, greener, and more pleasant streets, with fewer drivers speeding or stuck in traffic. It’s a quieter area where people can more easily choose to walk or cycle around Portsmouth.
We’re working with residents to create an Active Pompey Neighbourhood in Southsea in the area that stretches from Fawcett and Lawrence Roads on the west, Bath Road to the east, Goldsmith Avenue to the north, and Albert Road to the south. It’s the first time a project like this has been created in the city.
Your views
In October and November 2022, we took part in a series of informal engagement events to find out people’s views about Active Pompey Neighbourhoods.
We also sought further feedback about more detailed plans for the roads within the neighbourhood in a public consultation that ran in March and April 2023. This included a survey, talking to schools in the area, talking to people on their doorstep, organising guided walks and a drop-in session for people to find out more.
Feedback from the public consultation is currently being analysed by our project team. Once this is complete, final recommendations will be made to a transport decision meeting in Autumn 2023.
What are the specific plans?
The ideas we consulted can be found below, along with the details of what has changed following the consultation.
A one-way system with traffic calming measures on Bramble Road and Talbot Road. People on bicycles will still be able to travel both ways, and five parking spaces would be removed to make the area greener and provide more opportunities for walking and cycling.
Detailed designs for this proposal are currently being worked on. Following feedback we received from the consultation, only two parking spaces will be removed instead of the proposed five parking spaces.
Traffic calming measures on Orchard Road to help reduce speed.
After receiving feedback as part of our consultation survey, we found that 62% of people who responded agreed with the proposal. However, we also received valuable input from the 35 residents of Orchard Road who took part in the survey, with 66% disagreeing with this proposal. We also received similar feedback during a drop in consultation event on 16 March and during our discussions with residents at their homes.
Considering the significant number of Orchard Road residents and nearby business owners who disagreed with the proposal, we’ve decided not to pursue it any further. Instead, we’ll explore alternative ways to address the issue of speeding on Orchard Road.
To better understand the situation, we conducted a week-long speed monitoring exercise, checking vehicle speeds at both day and night. The results revealed a measurable speed of 28.6mph, which is higher than the designated limit of 20mph for this residential road.
Because of this, and in line with guidance from the police, we’ll focus on implementing traffic calming measures, like speed humps, to effectively reduce speeding on Orchard Road.
Adding speed bumps on Francis Avenue, Sutherland Road and Fawcett Road (near the Golden Eagle pub).
Closing the eastern junction between Francis Avenue and Goldsmith Avenue. The western junction will remain open.
Both of the above proposals were widely supported, and detailed designs are now being worked on.
Introducing 20mph speed limits on Jessie Road, Devonshire Square, Devonshire Avenue, Lawrence Road, and Campbell Road
Although we consulted on introducing 20mph speed limits this now does not fall within the scope of the Active Pompey Neighbourhood project.
Next steps
Residents and business on Francis Avenue, Orchard Road, Talbot Road, Sutherland Road and Fawcett Road where speed humps are proposed will receive a letter advising them on the proposed location of the speed humps. There will also be notices on street. Residents will have 28 days to make a representation to the council. The details of how to do this will be on the letter and the on-street notices.
We’ll consider all the feedback from all consultations before making recommendations at a formal meeting in the Autumn.
If they go ahead, the proposed speed humps will be put in place as permanent measures.
The Bramble Road and Talbot Road one-way system and the road closure at the junction off Francis Avenue and Goldsmith Avenue will be installed under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) for up to eighteen months. There is a statutory consultation phase of six months where representations can be made. Then will also be a public consultation after the measures have been installed for six months.
Should the measures be made permanent after the eighteen-month period, we’ll then look at planting greenery in the areas where spaces are available.
If you’d like to ask any questions, please email us at activepompeyneighbourhoods@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
