Hello and welcome to the first Portswood and Swaythling Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) update bulletin!

The Transforming Cities Fund

In March 2020 Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council were awarded Government funding from the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) for transport improvements in Southampton and Hampshire.

The TCF money is a significant level of capital funding for transport and will have a transformative impact on people’s journeys by bus, walking and cycling by enabling Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council to deliver plans for sustainable and active travel in a targeted way.

We are seeking to make our city a modern, livable and sustainable place to live, work and visit by investing in better and more innovative transport. We have a bold and ambitious plan to transform how the city looks and feels and the Portswood and Swaythling corridor is one area that we have identified that could benefit from some improvements.

Update

Through October and November, the council conducted a survey of residents and businesses in Portswood and Swaythling to understand how and why people travel around the local area. Responses indicated that local people would like to see improvements to walking and cycling, as well as better bus facilities and services. This survey has helped to inform some of our early thinking, and we presented our findings in December. Videos of these presentations can be found via our project website: transport.southampton.gov.uk/portswoodswaythling

At 12pm (midday) on Thursday 28 January we will be hosting another presentation via Microsoft Teams Live to discuss our emerging designs for the corridor. If you would like to attend and learn more about our proposals, you can do so by visiting the following link at the date and time specified:

bit.ly/tcf28jan (please note that this link is case-sensitive)

This presentation will be followed by a series of Q&A sessions at 10am, 1pm and 5:30pm on Tuesday 2 February that you can sign up for via the following link:

bit.ly/tcf2feb (please note that this link is case-sensitive)

Spaces are limited but more sessions may be made available on the Wednesday and Thursday, subject to demand.

We will also have a dedicated telephone line available for the week from 9am to 5pm, between Monday 1^st and Friday 5^th February. To contact a member of our project team, call: 023 80 832 515

For more details visit project page: transport.southampton.gov.uk/portswoodswaythling

Portwood trial cycle scheme

The trial cycle lanes are still in place along Portswood Road and, as per the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, we will be engaging and consulting on these until a decision is made in Summer 2021. If you would like to provide us with your comments on there, you can do so by writing to Traffic.Orders.Legal@Southampton.gov.uk

St Denys Active Travel Zone (ATZ)

Following a series of co-design workshops, the council is undertaking work to create a greener, safer and healthier neighbourhood in the St Denys area with an Active Travel Zone (ATZ).

We have recently installed trial modal filters, like the ones pictured, on Kent Road and North Road and early feedback from the community has been positive. We are keen to hear the views of everyone who lives and works in the area.

The consultation period on these trial measures will be running for a six-month period to May 2021. If you would like to tell us your thoughts, you can do so by emailing: Traffic.Orders.Legal@Southampton.gov.uk

We are coordinating a number of planned works in St Denys between January and March, which includes introducing ‘continuous crossings’ for five of the roads joining St Denys Road. This is the second phase of the St Denys ATZ scheme. We are also coordinating with Gas Distribution Company SGN who are replacing a gas main along St Denys Road and Adelaide Road. Within this period we also plan to begin the trial closure of Priory Road North junction with St Denys Road but only after completing works at Kent Road junction. These works began on 11 January and will continue over a 14-week period. Full details including a map showing the phasing can be found here.

For further information on the Active Travel Zone scheme and upcoming works in the area, visit: transport.southampton.gov.uk/stdenys.

Contribute your local knowledge to Southampton’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025

We have a fantastic opportunity to put Southampton on the map with our bid to become UK City of Culture 2025, and it is vital that Southampton’s bid represents all the voices of the city.

To enable you to contribute your local knowledge of the area you live in, your thoughts about the strengths and challenges it faces, and how you think becoming UK City of Culture will help Southampton, you are invited to attend the Portswood and Swaythling online focus groups taking place Thursday 28 January 17.00-18.00.

More information can be found on the Southampton 2025 website. 

To get involved, please email cityofculture25@southampton.gov.uk stating clearly in the subject line which of the meetings you would like to be invited to.

Thank you for your interest in these proposals

We will be sending out regular updates to let you know how the schemes are progressing. If you know of anyone that would be interested or benefit from receiving these updates, please refer them to the following link:

bit.ly/Portswood-SwaythlingTCF (please note that this URL is case-sensitive).

In the meantime, please speak to your neighbours and friends - let them know about the schemes.