CONGESTION at a bottleneck junction in Poole could be eased with proposals to widen the road.

The Pottery Junction roundabout is one of the busiest on the Poole-Bournemouth journey, and traffic is squeezed into one lane to get along Poole Road after leaving the Branksome Pottery roundabout.

But the Borough of Poole’s transportation advisory group (TAG) last week approved plans to add a second lane to the turn-off.

It will be introduced as part of the John Lewis at Home development at the neighbouring Poole Commerce Centre.

Julian McLaughlin, head of transportation services, said: “The exit is a regular source of traffic congestion.

“The location of a pelican crossing, the nearby bus lay-by and only one lane for traffic all contribute to this.”

John Lewis was approached to see if it would be willing to offer some of its land for the road-widening scheme.

Due to the beneficial effect on the commerce centre’s business, the agreement was made to release the land at no cost to the council.

Mr McLaughlin added: “This will have a very positive effect on reducing congestion at this location.”

However, the decision has been dismissed as a “knee jerk reaction”.

John Sprackling, chairman of the Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs and District residents’ association, said the likely cost of the scheme – around £150,000 – would prove controversial.

He said: “The proposal will do nothing to improve the peak-time congestion at the roundabout.

“There has been no time for consultation with residents and this seems simply a knee-jerk reaction.”

The proposals were unanimously passed by the TAG and have been approved by Mike White, portfolio holder for transport.

It is expected the widening work will take place in tandem with the John Lewis development, with work likely to be completed around October.