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Published on Wednesday 19 October 2022

The new Transforming Cities Fund shared cycle and walking route along Magna Road, close to the Canford Magna Garden Centre
The new Transforming Cities Fund shared cycle and walking route along Magna Road, close to the Canford Magna Garden Centre.

The Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) project along Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road in north Poole has made good progress with the initial phases of work completed.

The sustainable travel route has now been opened for use and runs for 3.7 kilometres from the junction of Queen Anne Drive and Gravel Hill all the way to Knighton Lane at the western entrance to Bearwood.

The improvements made so far include:

  • A new shared cycle and walking path along the whole length of Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road as far as the Knighton Lane junction
  • Junction improvements where joining roads meet Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road with safer crossings for cyclists and walkers
  • New toucan crossings and light-controlled crossings at the Canford Magna junction making it safer for people walking and cycling, particularly school children in the area
  • Refurbished and improved bus shelters with raised access to make it easier to get on and off buses and textured paving to assist disabled and sight impaired users
  • Clearer signs and markings all along the route

Cllr Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability said:

"We are really progressing well with our local Transforming Cities Fund sustainable travel improvements. Queen Anne Drive / Magna Road is a key school route and these important improvements will give families the confidence they need to be able to walk and cycle safely to school.

"Added to this, with two proposed housing developments about to be built in the area, this is a great opportunity to implement sustainable travel infrastructure and encourage the new home-owners to adopt cycling, walking, scooting and taking the bus to work, leisure and education. This will help to lower the impact of traffic in the area as well as encouraging eco-friendly active travel."

Mrs Katherine Ansty, Headteacher of Merley First School said:

"We like to encourage our pupils to lead a healthy life and adopting an active form of travel to school, like cycling, walking or scooting, is a great way for them to get some daily exercise. The children’s safety is of course of paramount importance to us, so these new facilities, safely separated from the road, will hopefully encourage more families to adopt an active form of travel for the school run."

The improvements will form part of the new TCF green travel route between Merley and Christchurch.

Work will recommence on the final section of the project along Magna Road, from the Knighton Lane junction to the Bear Cross roundabout, in spring 2023. The break in work is needed to enable Taylor Wimpey to undertake road and junction improvements at the Magna Road / Knighton Lane junction including a new entrance into the new Canford Park housing development.

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