Why must Whiteley wait? asks Liz Leffman

4.49.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Sep 2009

Exactly one year ago, Liz Leffman and a group of Whiteley residents presented a petition to Hampshire County Council, asking for key distributor roads in and out of Whiteley to be opened in order to ease traffic congestion in the village. One year on, the roads remain closed except for buses, and the report on a computer modelling study conducted by independent traffic consultants last October still has not been released.

Members of Whiteley Parish Council have been expecting the report since early 2009, but have not had sight of it.

Residents and staff going into the business park have to contend every day with traffic gridlock, because there is only one main road in and out of the village. The congestion means that some cars try to use a shortcut up Leafy Lane, which has angered people living in this residential area.

The Parish Council surveyed Whiteley residents last year, and over 80% wanted at least one of the two existing distributor roads to be opened to all traffic, not just buses.

Meanwhile, Hampshire County Council has spent £800,000 on a bus gate on Rookery Avenue, used by a maximum of 13 buses a day.

"I simply do not understand what is holding up the publication of this report" said Liz Leffman. "Eleven months is quite long enough. HCC have not given any reason for the delay. They wilfully disregard the public who elect them. The report should have been available long ago."

Councillor Vivian Achwal, who is a member of the Parish Council, said "I am often asked by residents what is happening following our petition, and all I can say is that no-one has told us. This situation is totally unacceptable"