Traffic counter installed on Tatnam Road in Poole

Unbeknown to residents of Tatnam Road, a traffic counting device was installed down the street at some point last week as controversy surrounding the road’s reopening continues to loom.

As reported, the road in Poole has been the source of contention for more than two years after being subjected to a trial closure in response to an increasing number of speeding offences.

In December last year, BCP Council’s cabinet decided to reopen the road to a mixed reaction.

Amid their pleas for greater safety provisions, residents of Tatnam Road stumbled across a traffic counter device attached to a street lamp last week.

Read more: What's next for Tatnam Road? Here's what the speed limit will be

A traffic counter device allows for a count of vehicular or pedestrian traffic conducted along a particular road and are primarily seen before or after the introduction of new traffic measures.

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are responsible for arranging the temporary deployment of the counter on Tatnam Road.

“It is being used to record traffic and speed data in the area. Those living on Tatnam Road were made aware of the counter in advance.

“It will be in place for a total of seven days and we will then download the data for review.”

However, a spokesperson for the recently formed Tatnam Road Safety Group insisted residents were not made aware of the traffic counter’s installation.

Read more: Road closure review described as 'travesty' - should Tatnam Road stay closed?

They said: “As residents, we are pleased that at least the problem is now being monitored once again, although the volume of traffic will currently be much lower due to the school half term. We trust this traffic monitor will be in place for at least a few more weeks to provide relative data.

“What we would have expected is additional traffic calming measures to be installed, as the data was already known years prior to closing the road, rather than placing residents, pedestrians, cyclists and schoolchildren back at risk again.”

Read more: “The speeders are back”: Resident fear 'rat run' road is back after closure removed

When visiting Tatnam Road, several residents told the Echo they too were not made aware of the traffic counter installation – including one man who lived directly beside where the device was placed.

One resident said: “It's not cool. It's dangerous how fast the cars come down when there's a school here.

"We've contacted the council several times asking them to do something – even if it means putting up speed bumps – but haven't heard anything back.”

Another said: “They’ve done this during half term, which is very clever of them because when the school is open it gets so congested – same in the evenings at busy times.

“Communications have been rubbish to tell you the truth. It’s 20mph here, nobody does 20 down here. People just need educating and need to know it’s a 20 zone.”

The resident also felt the traffic counter showed an “admission” by the council that the road has speeding problems.