NEW travel proposals to encourage different modes of transport in Christchurch are being unveiled to residents.

A series of exhibitions will take place in the town over plans to “enhance sustainable transport” as part of the Three Towns Travel project for the A35 corridor through Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole.

In Christchurch, Dorset County Council has earmarked £1.1m from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to make it easier for residents to travel by walking, cycling and using the bus.

Engineers are looking at improving the Stour Road junction with Bargates to make buses more reliable by making it easier for them to make a right turning onto Bargates.

Plans also include upgrading Purewell Cross junction to include more pedestrian ‘push button’ crossings to make it safer and encourage residents to walk into town.

There are also two cycleways being designed, one along the north side of Somerford Road and one along Barrack Road.

The fifth proposed scheme for Christchurch is the signalisation of traffic passing under Stony Lane Railway Bridge. This will allow the cycleway to be widened and make it safer for disability scooter users and parents with buggies, as well as cyclists.

Plans will be on display and a county council engineer on hand to answer questions.

Hilary Cox, cabinet member for environment, said: “We’ve been working with the local county and borough councillors for some time in order to understand the best use for this money in Christchurch, which can only be used for sustainable transport improvements.

“We are now in the final stages of the designs and we need to hear what local residents think.”