Southsea street could limit vehicle access as Portsmouth City Council deems it an 'Active Pompey Neighbourhood'

Consultation will begin next week on the Talbot Road scheme, which the city council calls an 'Active Pompey Neighbourhood', limiting access to cars at its junction with Fawcett Road.

Cabinet member for transport Lynne Stagg said the move would also reduce pollution in the area and was being considered in response to public concerns.

'We've had lots of complaints over the years,' she said. 'There have been lots of accidents in the area particularly with pedestrians and cyclists. We need to address that.'

Cllr Stagg approved the Active Pompey Neighbourhoods project earlier this year, moving away from the use of the term low traffic neighbourhoods due to opposition to schemes elsewhere in the country.

The difference, she said, is that increased consultation would take place before anything is introduced.

'We're not progressing any low traffic neighbourhoods in the city, we're taking an entirely different approach to it,' she said. 'That's based on looking at what's going on in other parts of the country where there's been quite a bit of negative reaction.