Merley, Poole to/from Christchurch

The consultation has now closed on this route and we’ve published a report summarising the results. Thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to have their say on the proposals.

Based on the feedback we received during the consultation, we are now developing designs and have started construction on a number of the proposed routes. Please click here(External link) for the latest information on the TCF programme.

The route was divided into sections as shown on the following picture and we are working through comments on the proposals for each of these sections to help inform more detailed design development.

Gravel Hill - Merley Lane

Merley Lane-Canford Arena Way

Canford Arena Way - Wood Lane

Bear Cross Roundabout

Longfield Drive – Kinson Roundabout

Kinson Roundabout – Northbourne Roundabout

Whitelegg Way

Redhill Roundabout – Broadway Roundabout

Castle Lane West - Parley Lane

Yeomans Way Roundabout – Cooper Dean Roundabout

Iford Roundabout – Fountain Roundabout

About the improvements

Gravel Hill – Merley Lane - proposals in this section include:

• The existing shared use path on the north side of Queen Anne Drive widened between Montacute Way and Merley Lane
• Junction layouts revised where Queen Anne Drive meets Rempstone Road, Montacute Way, Lynwood Drive and Merley Lane, giving more priority to people walking and cycling

Merley Lane – Canford Arena Way - the proposals in this section include:

• A new shared path on the north side of Queen Anne Drive, between Merley Lane and Canford Magna
• New toucan crossings and traffic signals at the Queen Anne Drive/Canford Magna junction
• Revised junction layout at the entry to the Hamworthy Club, giving more priority to people walking and cycling
• A new 3m-wide shared path between the Hamworthy Club and the Canford Arena Way junction
• Improvements to the Canford Arena Way junction, including a new toucan crossing on the northern arm

Canford Arena Way – Wood Lane - proposals in this section include:

• The existing footway on the northern side of Magna Road between Merley Lane and Knighton Lane would be converted to shared use
• The existing shared path on south side of Magna Road widened
• A new protected cycle track installed on both sides of Magna Road between Knighton Lane and Wood Lane, with a small section of shared use path between the junction and Wheelers Road on the south side. Access will be maintained to/from properties
• More priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Magna Road and adjoining roads
• Three bus stop locations upgraded along the route, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• New toucan and puffin crossings along the route
• A lower speed limit of 30 mph along Magna Road, between the Knighton Lane junction and just east of King John Avenue

Bear Cross Roundabout

The route would connect with the Poole town centre to/from Ferndown and Wimborne route at the roundabout. The proposals in this section include:

• On the eastern arm, a new two-way cycle track running through the verge on the northern side of Wimborne Road
• On the western arm, a new one-way cycle track installed on both sides of Magna Road, with upgrades to street lighting and crossing points
• On the southern arm, a new shared path on the western side of the road
• New crossings and shared space around the roundabout, connecting the routes
• Five bus stop locations upgraded around the roundabout, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information

Longfield Drive – Kinson Roundabout - the proposals in this section include:

• A new two-way cycle track running through the verge on the northern side of Wimborne Road continues from Bear Cross Roundabout, joining the one-way cycle track at Durdells Avenue
• A new one-way cycle-track installed on both sides of Wimborne Road, between Durdells Avenue and Home Road
• More priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Wimborne Road and adjoining roads
• Changes to the road layout to provide space for the cycle track, including the removal of dedicated right-turn filter lanes and central hatchings between Tonge Road and Poole Lane. Vehicles will still be able to turn right at these locations
• Upgrades to existing crossings points along route
• Three bus stop locations upgraded along the route, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• New planting at the junction of Wimborne Road and Oxford Lane, preventing access for vehicles. Access for cyclists and pedestrians would not be affected
• Parking and loading restrictions introduced between Oxford Lane and Poole Lane

Opportunities for improvements to bus journey times and cycling/walking facilities between Poole Lane and Horsham Avenue are being explored and would be subject to further consultation

Kinson Roundabout – Northbourne Roundabout - the proposals in this section include:

• A new protected cycle track installed on both sides of Wimborne Road between Horsham Road and the East Howe Lane junction
• Loading and waiting restrictions introduced on Wimborne Road to prevent parking between Horsham Avenue and the eastern junction of Kinson Grove
• More priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Wimborne Road and adjoining roads
• Four bus stop locations upgraded along the route, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• New shared space and upgraded crossings at the East Howe Lane junction
• The existing footway on the south side of the road upgraded to shared space, between the East Howe Lane junction and Northbourne Avenue
• Improvements around Northbourne Roundabout, including two-way cycle tracks on both sides of the road between Northbourne Avenue and the roundabout, new crossing points and a shared use path on the eastern side
• Changes to the current one-way system in place on the service road south of Wimborne Road – access for vehicles would be restricted between the main road and the service road, while the service road itself would become two-way, with some parking removed at the eastern end to enable access in both directions
• Changes to the Northbourne Roundabout junction to reduce waiting times for buses would be subject to future consultation

Whitelegg Way - The proposals on this section were consulted on in March 2021. Having considered the feedback received, work is planned to start along Whitelegg Way in May. Please visit the Transforming Travel website for more details on the planned works.

Redhill Roundabout – Broadway Roundabout - the proposals in this section include:

• Quiet route along Wimborne Road service road, between Redhill Roundabout and Muscliffe Lane
• Signal upgrade at Muscliffe Lane junction, giving more priority through the junction for buses
• A new two-way protected cycle track on the northern side of the road, between Muscliffe Lane and Redbreast Road North
• Between Redbreast Road North and Broadway Roundabout, a new one-way protected cycle track installed on both sides of Castle Lane West
• Right-turn lanes and central hatching removed at the junctions of Charnwood Avenue and West Way. Vehicles will still be able to turn right at these locations
• More priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Castle Lane West and adjoining roads
• Seven bus stop locations to be upgraded along the route, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• Upgrades to existing crossing points and new crossings installed along the route
• An existing access point between the service road and Castle Lane West, on the north side of the road near Broadway Roundabout, to be closed to vehicles. Access would be maintained via alternative access points to the east and west
• Improvements to Broadway Roundabout, with new crossing points and separate space around the roundabout for those walking, cycling and driving
• Three bus stop locations on Castle Lane West to be upgraded, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information

Route would connect to existing provision along Castle Lane West towards Castlepoint Shopping Centre

Castle Lane West- Parley Lane - the proposals in this section include:

• A quiet route from Castle Lane West, along Broadway Lane and through residential estates towards Throop Road, heading across the River Stour and northwards towards Parley Lane
• The existing footpath upgraded to a 3.5m-wide surfaced path for cycle and walking
• New toucan crossing on Parley Lane, connecting into the existing shared path on the north side of the road

Yeomans Way Roundabout – Cooper Dean Roundabout - the proposals in this section include:

• Signal upgrades at Yeomans Way Roundabout and Woodbury Roundabout, providing more priority for buses over the junctions
• A new protected cycle track installed on the north side of Castle Lane West between Woodbury Avenue and Ibbertson Road, connecting to the existing shared path into Cooper Dean Roundabout
• A new two-way protected cycle track on the south side of Castle Lane West connecting the service roads
• Three bus stop locations to be upgraded along the route, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• Changes to the road layout to provide space for cycle track, with one lane of traffic maintained in each direction
• Improvements made to existing crossing points along the route and more priority for cyclists and pedestrians travelling along Castle Lane West across adjoining roads
• Existing access point closed to vehicles between Castle Lane West and the parallel service road on the southern side, near Cooper Dean Roundabout

Opportunities for improvements to bus journey times and cycling/walking facilities between Yeomans Way Roundabout and Woodbury Roundabout are also being explored around Castlepoint Shopping Centre and would be subject to further consultation.

Proposed future development on the northern side of Castle Lane East could have a significant impact on the road network in this location. As such, sustainable transport improvements on this section will be considered as the development work progresses.

Iford Roundabout – Fountain Roundabout - the proposals in this section include:

• A new two-way protected cycle track on the north side of the A35 between Bridle Crescent and the existing crossing point at the south-western end of Iford Bridge
• A new two-way protected cycle track on the south side of the A35 between the existing crossing point at the south-western end of Iford Bridge and Bailey Roundabout, bypassing Jumpers Roundabout. On-street parking on Barrack Road would be relocated to adjoining roads to create space for the cycle track
• More priority for cyclists and pedestrians at the junctions of Barrack Road and adjoining roads
• New planting installed at the junction of Stourvale Avenue and The Grove, preventing access for vehicles. Access for cyclists and pedestrians would not be affected
• New toucan crossing points to be installed along route
• Up to eighteen bus stop locations to be upgraded between Cooper Dean Roundabout and Fountain Roundabout, which could include accessibility improvements, new shelters and real-time information
• Road layout revised at Bailey Roundabout, allowing east-bound traffic to bypass the roundabout, and a new parallel crossing installed on Bailey Drive
• The existing shared use path on the south side of Barrack Road would be improved between Bailey Roundabout and Fountain Roundabout, connecting into facilities at the Stour Road junction

Have your say

This survey has now closed - thank you to everyone that took part.

There are some aspects of the programme which apply to all routes and sections:

Cycle lanes near bus stops

There will be several locations along the sustainable corridor routes where a proposed cycle track will pass a bus stop. At these locations the cycle route needs to be designed to ensure that people waiting for, joining or leaving a bus can do so safely, and people cycling and walking can travel past the bus stop safely. There are two different options that designers will consider at bus stop locations. These are referenced in the Department for Transport design guidance that is being followed on the programme:

• A bus stop bypass (also known as a floating bus stop) - This is the preferred layout of bus stop and cycle lanes at a location. The design of this type of layout is dependent on the amount of space available. People cycling travel behind the bus stop so there is no interaction with people waiting for, joining or leaving a bus. Bus passengers will need to cross the cycle track to access/leave the bus stop and cyclists will need to give way at this point in order to allow people to cross. The design needs to be developed with appropriate signage, different pavement textures and good visibility so people cycling and walking can be mindful of each other around bus stops.
• A bus stop border - If there is not enough space to deliver a bus stop by-pass the second preferred option is a bus stop border. In this scenario there is an interaction between people cycling and people waiting for or joining/leaving a bus. The design needs to be developed with appropriate signage, different pavement textures and good visibility so people cycling and walking can be mindful of each other around bus stops This solution is not appropriate for bus stops with frequent buses or high usage

Traffic light technology improvements for buses

At key locations along the routes, new technology is being introduced at traffic lights to improve bus journey times. The traffic signal technology, which detects approaching buses, helps ensure signals stay green for longer to reduce waiting times at the junctions.

At key locations along the routes, new technology is being introduced at traffic lights to improve bus journey times. The traffic signal technology, which detects approaching buses, helps ensure signals stay green for longer to reduce waiting times at the junctions. The proposed locations along the Merley, Poole to/from Christchurch route are:

• Poole Lane/Wimborne Road junction
• Wimborne Road/East Howe Lane junction
• Muscliffe Lane/Castle Lane West junction
• Yeomans Way Roundabout
• Woodbury Roundabout
• Castle Lane West/East Way junction

Cycle and E-scooter Hire

At a number of bus stop locations along the sustainable corridor routes, a bay will be provided for bikes and e-scooters available for hire through the current Beryl Share scheme. This will allow people to use a bus and a bicycle and/or an e-scooter to complete a journey.

BCP Council is participating in the Department for Transport’s 2021 trial for rental electric scooters. The rental scooters can be used on roads, signed cycle lanes and shared cycle/pedestrian facilities in Bournemouth and Poole. Private e-scooters are still, and will remain, illegal for use on public roads and cycleways. Find out more from the Transforming Travel website.

Engagement with accessibility groups

The programme team and designers will engage with accessibility groups at specific locations across the corridors to ensure that the design developed, subject to the outcome of consultation, considers all users of the highway.

Biodiversity

Where the removal of trees or other vegetation may be needed as part of the TCF proposals to deliver sustainable transport infrastructure, we will be aiming to deliver biodiversity net gain. This means we would undertake new planting, for example, at the same place or another location in south east Dorset to ensure that habitats which may be affected by our programme are in a better overall state than before the work started. We will work closely with relevant statutory environmental bodies and other groups, including council parks and tree officers, to assess the impact on any trees or vegetation as the proposals develop.

Wayfinding

As part of the proposals to encourage more walking and cycling across south-east Dorset, a network of wayfinding signage is being introduced. More information about the works that are already underway is available from the Transforming Travel website. Additional locations where signage is being considered are identified in the detailed maps available as part of this consultation.

Maintenance

The proposed TCF routes would be managed within BCP and Dorset councils’ ongoing maintenance programmes.