Summary
- Where: Bellemoor Road
- When: Work completed October 2022
- What: Improved footways, signage and promotion of the 20 mph
- Why: To make the area safer for walking and cycling
In 2021, Southampton City Council secured funding, through the Active Travel Fund, to deliver walking and cycling improvements for schools in the city. A trial School Street has been in place on Bellemoor Road, outside Shirley Junior School, since September 2021. This is a timed modal filter during the school run, which permits walking and cycling as well as retaining resident access by motor vehicle where required. The funding secured has been used to improvements at either end of Bellemoor Road School Street, which will improve access for people walking irrespective of whether the School Street continues beyond its trial. This work was completed October 2022.
Location of the proposed measures
The proposed measures for Bellemoor Road, are at its junctions with St James Road and Wilton Road. These are in addition to existing local traffic measures, including a 20mph speed limit on Bellemoor Road (between St James Road and Wilton Road) a modal filter permitting walking and cycling only on Wilton Road (at its junction with Bellemoor Road) and inbound-only access to Bellemoor Road at its junction with St James Road, where there is a cycle contraflow.
Summary of the new measures
- A continuous footway on Bellemoor Road, at its junction with St James Road. This will provide pedestrian priority over vehicles turning into Bellemoor Road;
- A continuous footway on Bellemoor Road and Wilton Road at its junction with Wilton Road. This will provide pedestrian priority over vehicles;
- Dropped kerbs within the longstanding modal filter which is an observed desire lines for pedestrians crossing;
- Enhanced promotion of the existing 20mph speed limit;
- Assist School Streets timed modal filters with a change of environment;
- Improved pedestrian facilities on this popular link between St James Park and Southampton Common;
- Signage to advertise the School Street on posts will remove the need for the A-frame signs which takes up footway space. The signage will provide the timings for the extended trial which will be confirmed later this summer
