Parking spaces at risk as new puffin crossing proposed on busy Portsmouth road

Up to six parking spaces could disappear to make way for a new crossing on a busy Portsmouth road where 14 collisions have been recorded.

Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for transport, Councillor Peter Candlish, will decide next week whether to introduce a pedestrian crossing on London Road.

The puffin crossing would, if approved, be between the junctions of Shadwell Road and Battenberg Avenue.

London Road – the A2047 – serves as a main arterial route in and out of the city.

Between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2025, there were 14 recorded collisions, resulting in one fatality, two serious casualties and 13 “slight” casualties, according to council papers.

It adds: “The most significant incident was the fatal pedestrian collision on April 23, 2022 at London Road/Shadwell Road, where a pedestrian crossing the A2047 was struck by a bus.

“The record also includes a serious cyclist collision on June 28, 2023 at Battenberg Avenue and a serious mobility scooter collision on January 25, 2024 at St Chad’s Avenue.”

It argues this pattern shows a “persistent” risk to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians and “supports the need for a formal, controlled crossing facility”.

The council says the intervention would improve safety and “connectivity between the residential area to the east and local amenities to the west” while reducing the “likelihood of unsafe informal crossing behaviour and significantly improve safety and accessibility for vulnerable road users”.

However, in order to accommodate the crossing and highway improvements, “it will be necessary to remove approximately 40 metres of on street unrestricted kerb space”, equivalent to six parking spaces.

A consultation was launched between June and July this year, which generated 15 responses from local people, groups and businesses.

A mixture of businesses and local residents objected to the scheme, including Millan Pharmacy, which said the removal of parking spaces would “create unnecessary barriers for patients who already face mobility challenges”.

A local resident added: “As you know there is already a parking issue in the area and removing these spaces is very unfair on the residents that live here.

“I struggle with parking every day when I return from work having to park sometimes two three roads away from my residence as there is not enough parking for us and removing even more spaces will only make things worse. The stress this causes when I have my very young child is ridiculous.”

The Portsmouth branch of Samaritans, an emotional support charity, said: “The removal of on street parking close to our premises would make it considerably more difficult for volunteers to attend their shifts and other essential activities.

“This is particularly concerning for overnight hours, when public transport options are limited and volunteers quite reasonably place a greater emphasis on being able to park close to the branch.”

Despite the strong local opposition, the crossing has been recommended for approval to meet the “need to reduce the risk of further fatal and serious injury collisions at a location with a demonstrated history of severe incidents involving vulnerable road users”.

The decision will take place in the main council chamber at the Guildhall at 4pm on September 17.