A WINCHESTER civic chief has branded as "an act of insanity" the idea of keeping two major roads open in Winchester.

The current Andover Road is set to be closed to through traffic once the new 'Andover Road' in adjacent Kings Barton estate opens in the coming years.

The issue was raised at the Winchester Town Forum with Kings Barton residents calling for the old road to stay open to reduce traffic flows through the new estate.

City council leader Martin Tod said: "Having two main roads running in parallel would be an act of insanity in terms of urban planning and traffic planning. You can't have both, that makes no sense at all."

He said he did understand the frustrations of the residents of the new estate over a decision made in 2011 to divert the main road through the then-unbuilt estate. The road through Kings Barton - Winchester Avenue - is currently not fit for purpose.

Cllr Tod said with the county council the city ws looking to reduce traffic with more park and ride and encouraging cycling and walking.

Mike Slinn, of the Kings Barton Residents Association, told the forum: "It is not only residents of Kings Barton but also people living in Weeke and Harestock who realise if Andover Road is closed there roads will be used as rat runs to the city centre."

Andy Key, of Cycle Winchester, put a different view. He said it was vital that one of the routes is closed to allow for a major route for cyclists.

"Having two routes into a city where there used to be one doesn't solve problems, it just means more traffic will fill both routes; more congestion, more congestion at Carfax, more traffic to discourage cycling and blows a hole in the Winchester Movement Strategy."

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Another member of the public Nigel Davison, speaking for residents of Harestock Road, they were concerned that any increase in traffic would increase on a road with a 40mph limit.

Charles Crawford, of Chilbolton Avenue, said the limit on his road needed to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph as the number of residents has increased ten-fold in recent years.

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Town Forum chairman Mike Craske said the Harestock Road-Stockbridge Road-Chilbolton Avenue-Romsey Road axis was "education central" close to the many schools including Harestock primary, Henry Beaufort, Weeke primary, Peter Symonds College, Westgate, Weeke primary, Kings' and St Peter's.

"We need to do something before there is a serious accident", said Cllr Craske.