Our ‘cuckoo land’ Labour council spent £3M banning drivers from main road but didn’t tell ANYONE – we’ll ignore it

A "CUCKOO-LAND" council has been slammed for implementing a bizarre road rule without telling any of the residents.

Southampton locals are baffled at their Labour-run city council's £3million pound scheme which prevents them from using a main road during rush hour.

The popular Portswood Road is supposedly restricted from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm, but locals decided the best way to deal with the rule is to ignore it.

Driver Alison Curtis, 60, was donating some clothes to a nearby charity shop and wasn't even aware the regulation was put in place on January 27.

She thought the "awful" rule was going to lead to a lot of disgruntled Southampton residents.

The business consultant said: "Oh my god that is awful, this is a main street from the town to the motorway.

"If you hadn't pointed it out to me I would not have noticed.

"Where is the communication - the communication needs to be really overt, there are going to be a lot of unhappy people. What is the purpose.

"There must be a different and better way."

After dropping off her items at the charity shop, Alison drove off through the restricted area.

Residents are stumped at how they were expected to spot Southampton City Council's sign that suddenly changes the road rules they've been following for years.

The scheme was intended to help tackle congestion along Portswood Road at peak times but the multi-million pound program been branded "ridiculous" and a "waste of money."

Tyler Jones, owner of the popular Flagship Coffee, has one of the businesses the scheme is designed to help.

The 24-year-old said he was in favour of the scheme, if it was done properly, but wasn't impressed with the lack of warning from the the council.

He suggested that workers should manage the traffic flow in-person rather than putting up a single sign.

Observing from his shop, he said it has at least been entertaining seeing road users struggle with the scheme.

"It has been funny watching it - how many people can't read signs," he laughed.

"There hasn't been enough publicity about it going on, not enough councillors or the people that wanted it managing it, they could be out there in hi-vis managing it, making sure people follow the rules.

"They could have done it in summer when we have got higher footfall, that would have drawn more customers to local business."

Tyler was told by a councillor that the first time you break the rule you'll just get a letter warning rather than a fine - something that will come in handy for oblivious motorists.

Construction worker Chris Page was renovating a shop next to Flagship Coffee and is now facing a slew of diversions to carry on his business.

He was infuriated and argued that his work would be made a lot more difficult now that will be forced to go around the road during working hours to unload building materials.

The owner of CMP Building said: "You are going to use more petrol and emissions going down the back roads.

"We have to go all the way around the back roads, it is more people going round residential areas, it just makes work harder."

As well as the general "hassle" he hit out at the lack of warning, claiming the road signs were not sufficient to bring about a complete road change.

The controversial program is currently under a six-month trial and has already caused havoc amongst drivers.

Only buses, cyclists and authorised vehicles are allowed to use the route at rush hour, leaving many motorists in meltdown.

Retired NHS manager Jenny said it was a "lose-lose situation" for businesses and couldn't believe that the £3 million wasn't spent on road improvements.

She said: "I don't think this will improve the area, according to the council this will make it easier and more attractive, it is the total opposite.

"They have ANPR cameras, they are giving a week of grace and then people will get fines for going through it.

"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."

Jenny was concerned that locals, who were used to going up and down these roads would just be on "autopilot" so any unadvertised changes would most likely go under the radar.

She argued there was "no logic" to the new enforcements.

"There is no physical barrier or flashing lights like for a train crossing," Jenny continued.

"I do not see how it is going to improve Portswood, the city planners are living in cloud-cuckoo-land."

"There is no logic to it."

The Sun has reached out to Southampton City Council for a comment.