Latest news with #EamonnKeogh
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Totton students late for GCSE due to Redbridge flyover works
Students were "upset" at being late for one of their GCSE exams as a result of controversial roadworks in the city, a headteacher has Veal, headteacher of Hounsdown School in Totton, Hampshire, said students experienced "profound" traffic problems as a result of Southern Water's works to fix a faced queues of up to two hours as a result of the eastbound carriageway closure on the A35 Redbridge flyover into Southampton from Totton, which started on Tuesday.A spokesperson for Southern Water apologised for the disruption, adding that limiting disruption was "challenging" on "arterial routes like this one". "We will take away all learnings from this week to explore how we may be able to improve and adapt our approach to similar challenges in the future," they added. The closure of one of the main routes into the city caused traffic described as "horrendous" by one driver, with some reporting that it took them an hour to move less than 1.6km (1 mile).Mr Veal said he had to delay the start of an English literature GCSE by 40 minutes on Tuesday because school buses were caught up in the delays - but the students on board did not know that."There were students stuck on a school bus... in traffic with these delays, thinking that their GCSE English literature exam had started without them," he said staff and invigilators were also late a result of the congestion, and questioned why the work did not take place next week - during half Keogh, Southampton City Council's cabinet member for transport, said the council had to grant Southern Water the permit because it was for emergency added that the available space on the bridge, the proximity of slip roads, the bend in the road and the blind summit meant the Southern Water was unable to open a lane on the flyover. 'Not a good start' Mr Veal said the students "coped admirably under the circumstances", and praised his staff for supporting them as best they could."But its not a great start for them at such an important time in their lives," he said."They've put an enormous amount of work and preparation into this and so they found that extremely difficult."He said he "sincerely" hoped it did not affect results."But it is possible," he said."The state of mind of young people before they start their exam is a factor."He said the school would apply for a concession through the exam board. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour council scraps £3m green road scheme that increases traffic
A Labour council has scrapped a £3 million green road scheme after it increased traffic on nearby roads. Southampton city council installed a gate in January that stopped traffic other than buses, bicycles and taxis from using Portswood Road at peak times. The bus gate, which was called the 'Portswood project', led to 1,882 fines issued between Feb 10 and April 10. But following a backlash from residents and a 'comprehensive' review, the council announced that the scheme would be suspended from Thursday. The local authority said the decision was made after a 'significant rise' in traffic along residential streets which 'raises concerns around road safety and congestion'. It also confirmed that, as of March this year, it had already spent more than £1 million of the £3 million allocated for the project. Residents had accused planners of being in 'cloud cuckoo land' when they introduced the expensive scheme, which they said was both 'ridiculous' and a 'waste of money'. Alison Curtis, a business consultant, 60, described the scheme as an 'awful' idea which was going to affect the businesses that lined the road. 'There [are] going to be a lot of unhappy people,' she said, adding: 'I am sure there is a different and better way to encourage people out of their cars, we need an alternative not just to be stopped.' Another pedestrian described it as a 'lose-lose situation' for businesses and that the £3 million should be spent on 'road improvements'. The 79-year-old retired NHS manager said: 'It is ridiculous, a waste of money which could be spent on road improvements.' She added: 'I can't see how it is going to benefit the shop owners, it is a lose-lose situation, they are going to lose money.' The council launched a survey in late 2020 on the scheme to gather residents' opinions on the area, and the results found that of the 195 respondents, only three were in favour of the bus priority option. But plans continued to progress, prompting a petition against the proposals that garnered 2,868 signatures and made it to council in 2022-2023. Speaking of the decision to suspend the bus gate, Cllr Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: 'Our approach has always been rooted in evidence and safety. We've used this trial to test the real-world impact of changes designed to make Portswood Broadway a safer, more attractive place to travel and spend time. 'The data shows that while the intended benefits are emerging, we must address unintended effects on surrounding roads. 'We are grateful to all residents and businesses who have taken the time to contact us to share their experiences with their thoughts about the trial.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Southampton: Council suspends Portwood Road traffic restrictions
A controversial bus gate designed to limit traffic on a busy high street has been Portswood Road restrictions meant only buses, taxis and cyclists were permitted to travel along sections of the road at certain was part of a six-month trial by Southampton City Council, which started in measures will be lifted from Thursday after what the council called a comprehensive three-month review and feedback from local residents. Two separate petitions had been set up which attracted hundreds of signatures calling for the scheme to be Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "Our approach has always been rooted in evidence and safety. We've used this trial to test the real-world impact of changes designed to make Portswood Broadway a safer, more attractive place to travel and spend time. "The data shows that while the intended benefits are emerging, we must address unintended effects on surrounding roads. We are grateful to all residents and business who have taken the time to contact us to share their experiences with their thoughts about the trial."The council said its assessment found a significant rise in traffic along nearby residential streets, including Brookvale Road, which raised concerns around road safety and congestion."We are acting decisively to relieve that pressure while continuing to explore long-term improvements. The council will work closely with residents in the coming months to understand why expected traffic patterns, such as use of Thomas Lewis Way, have not materialised. This engagement will help shape the next phase of the project, including possible new measures to protect residential roads and improve overall traffic flow," Mr Keogh said. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
£1 evening bus fare across Southampton and Hampshire extended for another year
An initiative to provide £1 evening bus travel for people across Southampton and Hampshire has been extended for another 12 months. The scheme, created by bus operator Bluestar, in partnership with Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council, will allow people to access cheap travel on Bluestar routes from 6pm. Nikki Honer, Bluestar's head of communications, said: "We have worked with Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council to secure funding through the Government's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which has given us the opportunity to extend this offer. "If more people choose sustainable transport over the coming year, we could make a real impact in helping to improve the air quality in and around Southampton whilst providing a boost for the local hospitality industry." Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "The £1 evening fare offer will continue to make travelling into and around Southampton more affordable for people."
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Portswood bus gate will not be scrapped despite concerns
A controversial bus gate trial which has been described as causing "widespread chaos and misery" will not be scrapped, a local authority has six-month trial in Portswood, Southampton - which began in January - means only buses, taxis and cyclists are permitted to travel at certain hours on stretches of Portswood a full meeting of Southampton City Council on Wednesday, transport chief Eamonn Keogh refused to scrap the plan until the impact was assessed, despite growing pressure to do Keogh also survived a motion of no confidence, tabled by the opposition Conservative group and supported by the Liberal Democrats. A petition calling for the project to be scrapped is also edging towards 5,000 signatures, whilst protesters marched through Portswood on Saturday with the same message. Addressing the meeting, Mr Keogh said: "At this stage we will not be ceasing the bus gate."He said the project would continue because "it is the trial", adding: "We need to recognise that that is the purpose - that we have got to assess what the impact is."Mr Keogh added the bus gate issue had "taxed" him "beyond anything I have ever known before".Also talking at the meeting, Portswood resident Katherine Holmes told councillors the first two months of the trial had a "devastating impact on the local community".She said high street businesses were reporting reduced footfall and a loss of earnings while thousands of cars were displaced into residential areas, which was causing "widespread chaos and misery"."The bus gate trial cannot be considered a success when there are such obvious and serious impacts on the local community," she continued. Mr Keogh said he understood the passion being expressed by residents but added that a recent independent audit into the project found there were "no further issues" with the Conservative group leader Peter Baillie, who tabled the motion of no confidence in Mr Keogh, accused him of "ploughing on no matter what"."At what point do you not plough on and say actually we need to halt and we need to rethink and we need to start again," he said."It is no exaggeration to say that Portswood will never be the same again if this bus gate continues."Lib Dem group leader Richard Blackman said the project did not look tenable or sustainable and he would scrap it the authority's Labour leadership, Mr Blackman said: "You need to demonstrate that you are listening, and really listening." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
