MAJOR congestion, frustrated drivers and longer journey times – roadworks around Bournemouth are driving people round the bend.

Nineteen separate schemes are currently taking place around the borough with roads being dug up by utility companies, developers and the council.

Temporary traffic lights, road closures and restrictions are causing long delays to rush hour commutes and affecting businesses in the all-important run up to Christmas.

In Bournemouth town centre, work on Richmond Hill is set to continue until Friday, while the northbound carriageway of Holdenhurst Road was closed for two weeks, starting on Monday.

Bournemouth Cllr Anne Rey, the Independent member for Throop and Muscliff, said: “It is a nightmare trying to drive anywhere in Bournemouth at the moment.

“It seems crazy, doing all this work in the run-up to Christmas.

There must be a better way of co- ordinating it all.

“There are roadworks on the way into the town centre and there will be roadworks around Castlepoint, you wouldn’t blame people for travelling to Southampton to do Christmas shopping.”

Cllr Michael Filer, portfolio holder for transport at Bournemouth council said residents had his sympathies while the work continued across the borough.

He said while work taking place across Bournemouth was not all council-led, “substantial” money was being spent on improvements as part of the Three Towns Travel scheme.

The deadline to spend the £12million allocation between Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch ends on March 31.

“We have taken very great care to be sure that in the weeks leading up to Christmas that the works in progress will be completed or stopped with the workman going away and the roads opened to their full extent.

“Any work to be completed will then take place in January.

“Unfortunately I had to warn the council that we can’t spend millions on roads without causing disruption.

“This is really regrettable and nobody feels more sorry for the residents than I do. Although there is a lot of work going on, when the peak shopping period comes it will be as near back to normal as possible.

“We are trying our absolute best to keep inconvenience to a minimum.”

He said during a meeting with the water board, electricity and gas companies, it was requested that where work was being done, a full working day was completed by workers to ensure speedy completion.

“Either we move forward with millions of pounds of improvements or we stay the same”, Cllr Filer added.

The roads affected and why 

  • Alma Road – Southern Gas Networks
  • Castle Lane West in two different places – Bournemouth Council and Sembcorp Bournemouth Water
  • Christchurch Road in three different places – Bournemouth Council
  • Holdenhurst Road – Watkins Jones Group
  • Iford Lane – Sembcorp Bournemouth Water
  • Muscliffe Lane – Bournemouth Council
  • Oak Road – Southern Gas Networks (now completed)
  • Poole Road – Bournemouth Council 
  • Richmond Park Road – Southern Gas Networks
  • St John’s Road – Bournemouth Council
  • Seabourne Road – Bournemouth Council
  • Seamoor Road – Bournemouth Council
  • Trafalgar Road – Wessex Water
  • Upper Terrace Road – Sembcorp Bournemouth Water
  • Wimborne Road, Kinson – roadworks associated with new Tesco store, being carried out by a contractor for Tesco
  • Yelverton Road, Richmond Hill
  • Richmond Hill

'Keeping the town moving is a priority for Bournemouth Borough Council'

Mike Holmes, Bournemouth Council’s service director for planning and transport said: “Keeping the town moving is a priority for Bournemouth Borough Council.  

“The majority of works undertaken on the highway are essential repair works carried out by the utility companies to ensure gas, water and electric supply is maintained to the thousands of homes and businesses across town.  

“We recognise as with all works carried out on the highway there is going to be concern over disruption and we work closely with the contractor to ensure works are carried out as quickly as possible.”

He said the council liaises “closely” to ensure emergency services are aware and the bus services are maintained.

He added: “Whenever possible we always take the opportunity to ensure that any programmed improvement works to the road networks and other utility works are carried out at the same time.

“I would like to reassure the travelling public that in the long term this saves time and disruption in the future for those travelling in and around the town.”

Mandy Payne, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “We at BCTC are fully aware of all the roadworks and the disruption that they are causing.

“We very much hope they do not impact the business community to any extreme. We are very fortunate to have close communication with the council, so we know why and where the work is being done – they are communicating directly to our trade group leaders in all areas. We are sending information out through chamber systems.”

Ian Girling, chief executive of the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry, declined to comment.