Changes to Portsmouth road access after council review

Portsmouth City Council is to lift restrictions on Isambard Brunel Road, with plans to review the change as university students return to the city later in the year.

The council is also preparing to amend the eastern seafront road closure, with the intention of easing traffic on Eastern Parade.

Work is currently ongoing to close Canal Walk and Castle Road to vehicles to give more space for walking and cycling, and help create safer cycle routes.

Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council said: ‘A whole variety of measures are in place across the city to help keep our infection rate low which is currently one of the lowest for major cities in the country. Restricting vehicle access to certain roads is just one of them.

‘We will investigate a change to the eastern end seafront road closure will ease the traffic pressure to Eastern Parade.

‘However, we will only make changes where it is safe to do so.

‘We have removed the road closure on Isambard Brunel Road as isn't currently necessary however, with all these measures we can easily reinstate them if we face a resurgence of the virus and we require them.’

Last month, a council meeting descended into a heated row over Southsea seafront road closures, as councillors expressed the frustrations of nearby residents.

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