Published on Tuesday 17 March 2020
The latest stage of the Poole Park Life project which focuses on improving access in and around the park, is due to start week commencing 23 March 2020.
The works form part of a £2.7 million National Lottery grant that was awarded to the council in 2017 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund for vital improvements to the infrastructure of the park, with Access; Play; Lakes and Lagoons; Heritage and Landscape; and Geese and Wildlife all consulted upon.
The initial stage of the Access works began in February with the removal of 33 trees that were diseased or in decline, with a tree replacement programme of 51 semi-mature trees being planted towards the end of the year.
The main phase of the Access works is expected to last approximately five months and includes:
- making the park more accessible, with friendlier crossing points for pedestrians
- removing highway features such as the roundabout and reducing the amount of tarmac surface
- providing new lighting along the Carriage Drive and from the cricket pavilion to Copse Close
- installing new drainage and resurfacing roads and paths to prevent local flooding issues
- resurfacing the southern half of the cycle track and improving the drainage around the cricket pitch to the freshwater ponds
- resurfacing access to the Lodges
- removing infrastructure such as metal knee-rails and opening up garden spaces for public use with new benches
During each stage of the Access works, the park will remain open with certain traffic restrictions in place which may include the closure of a vehicular entrance. This starts with the Seldown Lodge entrance near to the Dolphin Leisure Centre being closed to all vehicles from Tuesday 14 April for up to seven weeks. Local diversions will be in place and all park facilities will remain open throughout the works, accessed through the entrance on Parkstone Road near to the Civic Centre, or on Whitecliff Road.
Councillor Felicity Rice, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change commented:
"These are the most significant works to take place in Poole Park for many years, with the project highlighting our commitment to protecting and enhancing our outstanding natural environment for future generations to enjoy.
"The Access works are very much needed within the park and will be of benefit to all park users in the long-term. Whilst we recognise some disruption will occur during this programme of works, we are working with the contractor to ensure it will be kept to a minimum and we thank all park users for their patience during this time."
For more information please visit the Poole Projects website.