Whitecliff Road ETRO
We asked
An Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to prioritise walking and cycling on Whitecliff Road at Keyhole Bridge (between Poole Park and Whitecliff Park) was implemented on 19 August 2020 until March 2021. Information was available about the changes.
The aim of this trial was to create a safer environment to travel to and through the area on foot or by bicycle with safer and more sustainable access to the Poole Park area. Further aims were to reduce the number of vehicles driving through the park itself and to improve accessibility to the well-used National Cycle Network Route 25.
You said
- Decision report evidence(External link), including initial consultation report and the representations received in response to the 5-day engagement on the Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport's decision
- Final online consultation report (August 2020 to January 2021)
- Report of formal representations received via the ETROresponse@bcpcouncil.gov.uk email up to 1st March 2021
We did
On 15 January 2021 the Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport published their draft decision (External link)to revoke the ETRO and remove the road closure.
This was followed by a 5-day engagement period, when the public and interested parties had an opportunity to comment on the proposed decision using an online form. Altogether, 423 responses were received alongside a further 15 submissions via email. All responses were provided to the Portfolio Holder for consideration.
On 28 January 2021, the Portfolio Holder published their final decision, which confirmed the draft decision(External link). Then, in accordance with the council’s constitution, the decision was subject to a 5-day period of ‘call-in’ by councillors, and the decision was ‘called in’ for further consideration.
The decision was considered at a meeting of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board (Item 157) on 1 March 2021. A recording of the meeting(External link) and the minutes are available (the scheme was discussed from 00:01:50 until 02:21:50). The outcome was that the decision(External link) could be implemented as proposed and the ETRO was formally revoked and removed.
In July 2021, the Keyhole Bridge User Safety Group submitted a claim to the High Court for a judicial review and on 14 July, the High Court granted permission for the group to proceed with their claim.
On 6 October 2021, a hearing was held in the High Court. and the High Court published its ruling on 18 November 2021. A news article(External link) was issued on the council webpage commenting on the ruling.
On 28 February 2022, the council started a 40 day consultation to gather any new thoughts, feedback or suggestions which, in addition to those gathered from the initial consultation exercise, which may help inform a decision as to what changes to the road (if any) should be implemented.