PLANS to increase shopping space in Ringwood by developing part of the Furlong car park would add to the town's traffic hold-ups, it has been claimed.

Resident John Harwood, of Northfield Road, voiced his fears to the town council on the last day of public consultation on the four options put forward for the south western corner of the car park.

He claimed closing down Meeting House Lane as part of the plans would force more vehicles into the High Street and Christchurch Road.

"We have A31 and A338 traffic imposed on our local town roads merging with the local traffic on a filter access which has a bad sight line, high speed traffic on a bend, which is going onto a very narrow two-lane old highway standard road," he said.

The West Street exit "is further compromised by having a petrol service station" where it joins the A31.

"The accidents are regular but rarely fatal so nothing gets done as it is the public's fault and insurance is going to pay the bill.

"The regular snarl-ups due to traffic being slowed by through-traffic volume needs very urgent attention not only for safety but for energy conservation and pollution.

"This may be the duty of Hampshire County Council but it is your duty as a council to push for action and a result before we aggravate the disgraceful situation that has been created."

The four options for the car park are to: build shops, council buildings and a theatre; create two areas of new shops; put up public offices or do nothing.

Mayor Cllr Brian Terry said which option the district council would go for has yet to be decided so it was too early to comment.

"This is just a policy document on the way the town is going for the next 10 or 11 years. The traffic problem is two-fold. It's a Hampshire problem and it's a government problem," he said.

"We've been saying for a long time it needs a relief road going back to the Christchurch Road. We've been saying that for 20 years now.

"We know there is a traffic problem there. We can press and press but if the money isn't there, you get on and lump it until it is there."