Traders: state of subway is putting the public off

5:00pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Katie Clark

‘DESPERATE STATE’: The underpass linking the town centre with Bargates ‘DESPERATE STATE’: The underpass linking the town centre with Bargates

FRUSTRATED Christchurch traders are calling for swift action on plans to improve an integral part of the town centre.

Despite Dorset County Council pledging to look at much-needed improvements to the pedestrian subway linking Bargates and Christchurch High Street, the Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce fear further delays will result in nothing ever being done.

The project, which includes placing advertising boards on the walls, as well as mirrors to improve people’s sense of safety, murals by local schools and better lighting, has been blighted by delays since its inception.

Peter Watson-Lee, Chamber president said: “The whole thing is a bureaucratic fiasco. The underpass is in desperate need of improvement. Traders were reporting that members of the public say that they are refusing to go through the underpass because of its state, which in turn results in undesirables using it for begging and putting the public off.”

He added: “The Chamber have spent a long time in liaising with Christchurch council and drawing up plans as to what could be done.

“The great disappointment is that it is likely to mean that the improvements to the underpass, that were so close to being achieved, will again be put off and one wonders whether they will ever happen.”

A spokesperson for Dorset County Council said they were likely to consider the issue later “sometime this year”.

They added: “The county council generally supports the proposal to enhance the environment of the subway.

“Our main involvement is to ensure that the integrity of the subway and its lighting is unaffected by any refurbishment work.

“But as part of the improvements, we are also in talks with the Chamber of Trade about the use of advertising boards in the subway.”

A Policy Development Panel has been set-up to look at advertising and sponsorship.

Comments(20)

ajj-dorset says...
5:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13

It isnt the state of the subway that is the issue, the fault lies with the fact that it is a subway.

People simply cant be bothered walking down than back up just to see the couple of shops on Bargates.

You can polish it up all you like!

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spooki says...
6:54pm Thu 10 Jan 13

You could buff it up with a coat of paint or tiles but the morons who wrecked it before will do it again. Peeing/spitting chewing gum/scrawling on the walls will always be an attraction for these cretins. I'm happy to use it as it is though, it's better than crossing the road above it!

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BBC Escapee says...
7:58pm Thu 10 Jan 13

No it's not the subway - it's the gridlocked roads and the car parking charges that put the public off! - oh and not to mention the poor choice of shops!

Christchurch the only town to have a bypass going through the middle of the town!

Then somebody must of thought how can we create more gridlock and confusion on a Monday with the High Street closed for the market - I know lets have the buses and coaches stop just around the corner from the fountain roundabout so two lanes going onto the bypass suddenly become one. With no warning that this is going to happen until you find the inside lane blocked and cars trying to pull out into the outside lane at the last minute - pure genius!

No I can't understand why shoppers want to go to Castlepoint - lets put some mirrors in the subway - that will do the trick!

(They could get them from Bournemouth they use a lot with their smoke!)

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ashleycross says...
8:29pm Thu 10 Jan 13

They should do what was done at County Gates years ago now, fill in the subway under the wessex way and replace it with pedestrian lights.
You'd have to be on some pretty serious happy pills to make you believe mirrors make you safe in a subway.
Christchurch has got to drag itself out of the 1950s and realise that the car is no longer king having given us all obesity from no exercise and asthma from the fumes, and walking is the transport for the present and future and needs to be protected and encouraged.

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ashleycross says...
8:29pm Thu 10 Jan 13

They should do what was done at County Gates years ago now, fill in the subway under the wessex way and replace it with pedestrian lights.
You'd have to be on some pretty serious happy pills to make you believe mirrors make you safe in a subway.
Christchurch has got to drag itself out of the 1950s and realise that the car is no longer king having given us all obesity from no exercise and asthma from the fumes, and walking is the transport for the present and future and needs to be protected and encouraged.

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elaine191261 says...
8:31pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Quite agree with the above comments, why would you want to go to xch ,no interesting shops ,just cafes !!!!,it's not the subway,it's the shops!!!

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elaine191261 says...
8:32pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Just another thought, why not try and do something with the old health centre!!

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mytown1 says...
8:42pm Thu 10 Jan 13

So you go under the subway then what happens? You do not have a crossing anywhwere near the shops at the lower end of Bargates just traffic, traffic, traffic. Why would you want to go this end of town anyway. Sorry to the shop keepers at this side of town, but until the traffic problem is taken seriously by DCC and CBC a Policy Development Panel being set up is not going to make any difference.

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Hessenford says...
10:21pm Thu 10 Jan 13

ashleycross wrote:
They should do what was done at County Gates years ago now, fill in the subway under the wessex way and replace it with pedestrian lights.
You'd have to be on some pretty serious happy pills to make you believe mirrors make you safe in a subway.
Christchurch has got to drag itself out of the 1950s and realise that the car is no longer king having given us all obesity from no exercise and asthma from the fumes, and walking is the transport for the present and future and needs to be protected and encouraged.
Sorry to disagree but the car is still the king, that's why people are deserting town centers for the likes Castlepoint.

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jeebuscripes says...
8:03am Fri 11 Jan 13

I was once in a subway in Birmingham where I saw the best piece of graffiti ever.

It was a brilliant portrait of Harold from Neighbours.

That's what Christchurch really needs. Pictures of Harold from Neighbours.

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russ1977 says...
9:16am Fri 11 Jan 13

I use that subway all the time... Whats wrong with it? It gets me from one side of the road to the other extremely effectively...

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WOC says...
9:25am Fri 11 Jan 13

Never mind the subway, the steps need to be sorted first and foremost. A couple of weeks ago I was walking down said steps and my feet literally disappeared from under me and I ended up going down onto the brick steps with quite a thud, which resulted in some nice bruising. Had this happened to an older person the outcome could have been much worse. If you look at the steps they are green with slime and goodness knows what else!

Christchurch Council I suggest you sort the above before anything else before someone sues the pants off of you!!

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elaine191261 says...
10:05am Fri 11 Jan 13

There's nothing wrong with the subway,it is alot safer than traffic lights ,but yes the steps always look slippery when they are wet ,I always go the slope

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Hessenford says...
12:54pm Fri 11 Jan 13

Definition of a subway, muggers paradise.

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coster says...
1:21pm Fri 11 Jan 13

It's actually a problem due to the 'Bypass' not being a bypass. Putting all traffic straight into the centre of town was a touch of genius by some 'official'. Until that is corrected and the town reintegrated it will be a continuous problem.

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Victor_Meldrew_ Jnr says...
8:24pm Fri 11 Jan 13

Whilst I agree that the subway could do with some cosmetic work, at least you can walk through the subway without getting knifed, or mugged. Where I come from, subways are a no-go area.
I would also like to say that as a resident of Christchurch, the only day of the week that I am attracted to the town centre is Monday when the market is on, there is nothing of attraction value in the town centre on other days. Unless of course you fancy a coffee.

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elaine191261 says...
8:54pm Fri 11 Jan 13

Quite right victor_midrew ,that subway has been there for years ,I haven't heard in the news or from anyone that there's been a mugging etc and the town was popular with everyone but slowly over the years shops are going and being replaced by coffee shops etc that's the problem

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DorsetEco says...
12:11am Sat 12 Jan 13

I use the underpass every day and have never experenced any concern about safety. It is the quickest way to cross a road. It is the busiest underpass that I know. Access to shops in Bargates would be reduced rather than improved if the underpass were replaced by a light controlled pedestrian crossing.
Please Council just maintain it and regularly clean and maintain the steps.

Do not put ugly posters there, and mirrors will invite graffiti and COST US MONEY!

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elaine191261 says...
12:42pm Sat 12 Jan 13

Dorset echo is right ,lets hope at least someone from the council read these comments

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palexgo says...
11:43am Thu 24 Jan 13

To take the A35 through the centre of town was an act of stupidity. It was also stupid to provide a subway to the east side of Bargates rather than both sides. Crossing Bargates is very dangerous unless you use the lights. But that is many hundreds of yards from the subway exit.

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