RESIDENTS and business people have been giving their views on how to improve the Poole town gyratory system for cyclists and walkers.

Borough of Poole has put forward two options to make changes to West Street and West Quay Road with cycleway, zebra crossings and junction improvements with new pedestrian crossings.

The estimated £400,000 cost is aimed at making immediate improvements to the roads while a longer term supplementary planning document is updated.

Around 9,800 leaflets have been sent to residents and at the first of three drop-in sessions, held at Poole Sea Scouts’ Edith Lyle Hall in West Quay Road, a variety of views were put forward.

Frequent user of the town centre roads, Patricia Shergold from Broadstone said: “There are a lot of cyclists in the vicinity and lanes make it safer for people.”

She added that the nearby Hunger Hill junction was hazardous and needed improving. “People get in the wrong lane and try to cut across. That’s always happening.”

Roger Ives, who works at Poole Marine Services in West Quay Road, favoured option two which retained two lanes of traffic in West Street. “A single lane is going to end up with congestion further up the road,” he said and pointed out that most late afternoons West Quay Road was blocked with traffic trying to get through to Hunger Hill.

Option one would take away one lane in West Street heading toward Poole Bridge and put in two cycle lanes.

Cllr Ian Potter, chairman of the council’s transportation advisory group, said: “We want the people who are using it and living here to take part in the consultation.”

Borough of Poole project engineer Tim Holder said people had voiced a range of concerns and views about the road system, which was put in to feed the two lifting bridges.

However they were keen to hear other solutions. “If people have other ideas and options we want them to say,” he added.

How you can have say

A FURTHER drop-in session takes place at the Edith Lyle Hall in West Quay Road on Tuesday August 13 from 2pm to 6pm.

On Wednesday August 28 residents of Hamworthy can have see the plans at Hamworthy Library from 9.30am to 1.30pm where printed copies of the schemes and feedback forms are available until September 6.

Until the same date local residents can also fill in an online form at www.borough ofpoole .com/westquayroad consultation.