Traffic lights plan is key to superstore
Proposals for a huge new supermarket could stand or fall on a controversial traffic light system.
Tesco in Havant is set to close on April 19 to make way for the bulldozers and a new store double in size.
But the plans could fail if councillors cannot agree at a meeting on Thursday to decide how cars will get into and out of the site in Solent Road.
Tesco now wants to install a new traffic light system at the junction of Park Road South to cope with the added congestion.
The 'intelligent' traffic lights can increase the amount of time on a green light if there is lots of queuing traffic.
But critics fear the system could cause havoc on the Langstone roundabout and the A27.
The eleventh hour meeting is taking place as Tesco says it can no longer afford to improve the road in Park Road South.
The company originally agreed to install a new filter lane in Park Road South to cope with the extra traffic.
However, a fibre-optic cable, supplying Langstone Technology Park, has been found beneath the ground and it will cost 1m to remove.
Tesco says new traffic lights are now the only option.
But Ray Cobbett, co-ordinator for Hampshire Friends Of The Earth, said: 'I can remember lots of people having concerns about the amount of traffic and they were always assured expensive road works would solve the problem.
'Are these simply cost-reduction proposals?'
Councillor David Guest, sustainable development boss at Havant Borough Council, who has been working closely with Tesco bosses, said ripping up the road would cause huge disruption to the town.
He added: 'As for talk of cost-cutting, it's quite the opposite as this supermarket will create 300 jobs at a time when unemployment is going up and up.'
If the plans are approved, Tesco would re-open by December.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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