MAJOR plans to ease congestion at Hurn roundabout in Christchurch are to be outlined next week.

Engineers from Dorset County Council are looking at ways to ease traffic jams, with residents able to have their say on the two options on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The first option being considered by Dorset County Council is a signalised junction while the second option is a bigger improved roundabout.

Dorset Highways project manager Jody Foy said: “Hurn Roundabout already struggles to cope with peak time traffic and, with the expansion of Bournemouth airport and associated business park, we need to consider ways to increase the capacity of key junctions on the B3073.”

But Cllr Margaret Phipps, chairman of Hurn Parish Council and Christchurch councillor, said she did not know whether the measure would improve the traffic situation at Hurn.

“It is a difficult one,” she said.

“Generally the parish council believe that the back-up of traffic that we have at Hurn is not necessarily caused by the roundabout. It is caused by Blackwater junction – that is what we believe.

“But because any work at Blackwater would be a major infrastructure project and very expensive, the county council are looking at Hurn roundabout first.

“We, as a parish council, have been involved in talks with the county council about the roundabout plans, which is the preferable option as far as we are concerned.

“The plans have been amended several times to move it south as something so huge right on the village would be a nightmare.

“We have put a newsletter out to all our residents in Hurn telling them about the exhibitions. And we want to hear from them.

“We feel as a parish council we have done the very best we can do to ensure that the village and the conservation area and the rural aspect of the village is being preserved in light of them proposing such a huge scheme.”

The two outline designs will be on display and the project team will be available to answer residents’ questions at Hurn Bridge Sports Club, Avon Causeway, Christchurch from 10am to 5pm on Tuesday January 29 and from 2pm to 7pm on Wednesday January 30.

Work is currently programmed to start in early 2014.

To view the plans online visit www.dorsetforyou.com/hurn-roundabout