IN a bid to improve the busy Poole town centre gyratory system which was slammed for not being pedestrian and cyclist friendly, the council has come up with two options.

The road system which serves the two lifting bridges was criticised by independent expert Phil Jones in a report to a Borough of Poole select committee.

The council agreed to quickly deal with safety aspects and then do a longer-term review of the road network, which sees around 20,000 vehicles cross the two lifting bridges each day.

After consulting road users and businesses, transportation officers have come up with two alternatives which have now gone out for public consultation.

The first of the estimated £400,000 schemes would reduce the two traffic lanes to one travelling along West Street from the Hunger Hill roundabout towards the bridges with cycle lanes both sides of the road.

There would be new pedestrian crossings at the Marston Road/New Orchard junction, zebra crossings in West Street and West Quay Road and a build-out near Bay Hogg Lane to encourage traffic to use the Twin Sails Bridge rather than Poole Bridge.

“It would be more cycle-friendly, however, in terms of congestion at peak times, queues will be through Hunger Hill and beyond of an evening,” said Steve Tite, traffic manager.

The second option would keep the two lanes of traffic along West Street, new pedestrian lights at the Marston Road/New Orchard junction, new zebra crossings, a build-out at Bay Hogg Lane and a new variable message sign for the bridges nearer to Hunger Hill.

Cabinet portfolio holder Cllr Xena Dion, above right, who will make the final decision after the options have gone to the transportation advisory group in September, has urged residents and businesses to let them know what they think.

“This is not just about a couple of zebra crossings and a cycle path,” she said.

“It’s also an important port link and business link, which is so important to a thriving economy.

“We are focused on pedestrian and cyclist improvements and would urge everyone to complete a feedback form by September 6.”

 

DROP-IN SESSIONS

Drop-in sessions take place on Tuesday, August 6, between 1pm and 7pm at Edith Lyle Hall (Poole Sea Scouts), West Quay Road and at the same venue on Tuesday, August 13, from 2pm to 6pm.
A further session takes place at Hamworthy Library, Blandford Road, on Wednesday, August 28, from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
An online questionnaire is also available at boroughofpoole.com and the consultation closes on September 6.