Published on Friday 21 August 2020
Birds Hill Road and Stanley Green Road in Poole and Windham Road in Springbourne will be experiencing lower traffic levels from 31 August as BCP Council introduces three experimental low traffic neighbourhoods. These are designed to provide a safer and more attractive environment for people to walk and cycle through these areas and will be reviewed after six months, during which time people will be able to have their say about the schemes through a formal consultation.
Birds Hill Road will become a no-through road, with only buses and bicycles permitted to exit onto Longfleet Road, while neighbouring Churchfield Road will also become a no-through road with bollards and planters preventing traffic at its junction with Fernside Road. The Route One bus service will be unaffected. Seven on-street parking places will be removed to enable these changes.
Stanley Green Road will see closures implemented at three junctions, with through traffic prevented on Tatnam Road, Wimborne Road and on the one-way section westbound at Vicarage Road. Only one on-street parking place will be lost.
In Springbourne, an experimental junction closure will be implemented on Windham Road at its junction with Ashley Road. A trial closure of part of adjacent Cleveland Road, over the railway bridge between Windham Road and St Clements Road, was also proposed, though implementation has been paused to allow for further consultation. This will mean that it is not in place for the return to school this September.
Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Transport, BCP Council, said: "We are committed to a sustainable environment, and we hope these low traffic neighbourhoods will encourage people making short journeys to walk or cycle to work, school and for leisure while permitting effective social distancing, instead of using a car. This helps reduce congestion for all road users
"The experimental restrictions in each location will apply to motorised vehicles only and will be implemented through the use of bollards, timber planters and appropriate signage, resulting in an improved experience for pedestrians, cyclists, scooter and wheelchair users. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained."
Councillor Hadley continued: "Some of these areas have been highlighted by local residents as speeding hotspots, so we’re very pleased to be able to create safer environments in built-up areas at the same time as tackling both the climate change emergency and our aim of promoting active, sociable and healthy lifestyles.
"We have listened to local feedback and understand that the tight timescales and limited upfront consultation mandated directly by government requirements are a concern to local people. As a result, we have delayed the introduction of the Cleveland Road trial to allow for further discussion."
Residents and people who visit the areas concerned can have their say on these changes over six months from the launch of the consultation on Friday 21 August 2020. This consultation will help to inform any decisions about whether to make the changes permanent.