COUNCILLORS voiced their support for plans set out to widen the A31 - but have concerns over the full closure of access to the dual carriageway.

Ringwood Town Council's planning committee strongly approved of the project to add a third lane to the road.

Councillors called for a robust plan to identify how road works and diversions would be managed effectively to limit the impact on local residents.

The scheme, which is currently the subject of a six-week public consultation, seeks to widen the A31 between Ringwood and the Verwood off-slip.

Plans for the project were revealed in late June and included closing the controversial West Street rat run.

The committee were in favour of the overall concept of closing access to the A31 on safety grounds, but did have reservations over emergency services' use of the road.

Summarising the committee's view, which will be presented to full council later this month, chairman Cllr Christopher Treleaven said:

"We approve of the three lane project because the reduction of the congestion is not only in their (Highways) duty of trump road traffic being speeded up but also it reduces the congestion for our local residents.

"We would like to to see the lay by outside the garage extended the full length westwards to the Verwood turn off in order to facilitate local traffic going from Ringwood to Verwood not having to enter the A31 major traffic lanes.

"On the subject of West Street, we are concerned about buses and in particular emergency vehicles and would ask them (Highways) to take particular account of the need for an emergency access onto the A31 directly from Market Place if only through the use of smart barriers."

The committee stressed the importance of the town centre plans for pedestrians and cyclists, citing the unique position of having the A31 going through the middle of the community.

Alongside calling for cooperation with both the town council and Hampshire County Council over how the scheme will impact Ringwood in terms of road re-routing and parking problems, the committee would like to see thorough consideration for increased road noise for residents and the church.

Cllr Treleaven called for any consultation group the council puts forward to have access to the figures produced by Highways.

"We want to make sure they (Highways) take into account in their modelling of the traffic flows the new local plan because by the time they do it the plan will be out as to whether we have got sites R, P, Q, which will add some 500 cars at least at rush hour times if you've got an extra 1,300 houses," Cllr Treleaven added.

Ringwood Town Council meet on July 26 to finalise their response.