Timeline of Keyhole Bridge active travel scheme decision

BCP Council’s scrutiny board voted against extending the Keyhole Bridge traffic order last Monday, paving the way for the reopening of Whitecliff Road.

But why was the road closed and what has happened since July last year?

Background

BCP Council were indicatively awarded around £1.4million last year from the government’s active travel fund to support people cycling and walking.

• Railway bridge near Poole Park to be closed off to vehicles

In July, we reported that a “trial modal filter” was set to be installed at Keyhole Bridge in Whitecliff Road.

But the scheme attracted opposition from opposition councillors and people living nearby who criticised a “lack of consultation”.

At the time, concerns were raised about attempts to stop councillors from sharing information about active travel schemes being put forward by BCP Council.

Emails sent to councillors with details of projects planned in their wards asked that the information be kept “confidential”.

Councillor Drew Mellor, the leader of the Conservative opposition at the time, said it amounted to “banning” councillors from discussing proposals with the public.

And then Keyhole Bridge was closed.

JULY 2020

Known for being a tight squeeze to drive through, Keyhole Bridge in Whitecliff Road was closed to traffic as part of the active travel scheme.

The measures were designed to make the area around Poole Park safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

The trial closure was initially put in place for “up to 18 months”, with a review planned after six months.

However, Parkstone councillor Ann Stribley questioned its necessity.

She said: “It’s a very narrow, single track road under the bridge,” she said. “It’s not used by so many pedestrians and cyclists to have caused any conflict.

“The narrowness means that vehicles have to stop but that would also be the situation for any cyclists coming in opposite directions.

“Two pedestrians could pass each other but it would not be safe for bicycles coming through.”

In an email to Cllr Stribley, cabinet member for transport, Cllr Andey Hadley, said: “I have heard from plenty of people who do find it unsettling to use the bridge by foot or bike, as visibility is very poor and there is no space to avoid an oncoming car.”

• Letter to the editor: Poole Park Keyhole Bridge closure

SEPTEMBER 2020

A second vote of no confidence was called on the leadership of BCP Council, with the active travel scheme said to be a contributing factor to the two votes.

The Conservative group won the vote, and Cllr Drew Mellor became the leader of BCP Council.

OCTOBER 2020

Fast forward to October, and with the Conservative administration now in charge of BCP Council, several of the active travel schemes were scrapped.

Cllr Drew Mellor said he would “not repeat the mistakes” made by the previous Unity Alliance administration which had been accused of “a lack of consultation” on the measures.

NOVEMBER 2020

It was reported that the Keyhole Bridge closure would also be scrapped, but in November, and with entrances to Poole Park reopening after extensive works, Whitecliff Road remained closed to car traffic.

BCP Council said the closure would remain in place until February 21 when a decision would be made on whether to keep the restrictions permanently.

JANUARY 2021

Now in January, and cabinet member for transport, Cllr Mike Greene, revoked the traffic order a month earlier than planned.

• Poole's Keyhole Bridge to reopen to traffic

A cabinet member decision record published said Cllr Greene would revoke the closure, despite 128 formal comments in support of the scheme being submitted, compared to 35 objections.

The report said: “Discounting the correspondence received after the confused information, a report showed nine formal expressions of support and 14 objections.

“In addition, if the informal responses are considered before this miscommunication then in early October there were 54 per cent support for the measure compared to 43 per cent against.

“The council is not under an obligation to make a decision that aligns with a consultation outcome but must also consider the wider operational and legal issues.”

FEBRUARY 2021

Towards the end of February, the decision to reopen Keyhole Bridge was set to be reviewed.

Twelve councillors called in the decision for further consideration, saying it showed “flagrant disregard” for both local and national policy.

“The decision-making process has been opaque,” their submission said. “It appears that the outcome was prejudged and the process manipulated to attempt to fit that desired outcome despite the evidence.”

MARCH 2021

The final bid to prevent the reopening failed after BCP Council’s scrutiny board narrowly voted against extending the traffic order.

Despite an impact assessment saying it would have “major negative impacts,” Cllr Greene said it was adding to congestion in nearby roads.

He said this was exacerbating issues with air pollution in these areas and extending journey times.

However, supporters of the closure have criticised his use of traffic data from 2016 in his judgement.

And the road was opened, and traffic returned, much to the disappointment of councillor Felicity Rice.

Cllr Rice told the Daily Echo: “It is a road that would be ideal for people walking, it is right next to a park, there was not any real necessity for people to drive through, they could drive through the other entrances to the park.

“If you are in a wheelchair you have to go in the road on a blind bend. For somebody who is vulnerable, you are literally putting your lives into somebody else’s hands.

“There is a diversion of 600m. You would not build a road like that nowadays, it was designed for horse and cart, not for cars that can go quite fast.”

“My main concern is for child safety. Child danger will increase by reopening this to through traffic. Roads like this will lead to very serious injury through no fault of the child.

“I am hoping they will reconsider the closure. It is a very useful cycling and walking route.”