Drivers flout new rush-hour restrictions just seconds after they came into force following £3m road redevelopment.
A new £3million road scheme introduced to ban cars from a high street at rush hour has been branded a 'farce' after hundreds of motorists ignored it on its first day.
Labour council chiefs spent four years coming up with plans to crack down on traffic on an inner-city road and improve air quality.
In the latest war on drivers by a Labour authority, drivers in Southampton are now barred from part of the busy Portswood Road from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.
But after years in the making and £3million government funding, the new restrictions were flouted within seconds of coming into force on Monday.
Unfazed and unaware motorists ignored the new signage and continued to use the road. In just 15 seconds, 12 vehicles were spotted driving through the restricted area.
Southampton City Council rolled out the 'Portswood Project' scheme on Monday as a six-month trial, with only buses, taxis, and cyclists allowed on the restricted part.
Disgruntled resident John Nightingale described the whole scheme as a 'farce'.
The 78-year-old lives nearby and walked to the high street to watch the start of the trial. He said: 'I have lived in the area for 34 years and this is a silly idea.
'To be honest, people are simply going to find routes to avoid this area, and it will slow down the buses using the bus gate on their other routes, which defeats the object.
'People are taking no notice whatsoever of the closure. There is not enough information on the roads about this.'
He added: 'I'm pleased to see there is disabled parking on the road but if the scheme goes ahead, there is not going to be much parking for those who want to pop here for a shop.'
The project has also been slammed by businesses, who fear it will destroy trade.
Yildirim Ordu, manager at Poppins Café and Restaurant in Portswood Road, told Southampton's
'Early morning we get so many customers, but this morning has been dead because people going to work they came in to get drinks and a quick sandwich and they couldn't today.'
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