RESIDENTS have voted overwhelmingly in favour of keeping two lanes of traffic feeding Poole’s lifting bridges.

The old town gyratory system needs urgent work to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and Borough of Poole carried out consultation on two proposals between July and September.

The options, with an estimated cost of £400,000 were aimed at making immediate improvements to the West Street and West Quay Road layout, while a longer-term supplementary plan is reviewed.

Both proposals included controlled pedestrian crossings at the Queen Mary junction, zebra crossings on West Street and West Quay and the realignment of the West Street/Bay Hogg junction.

The first option was for one lane along West Street from Hunger Hill to Bay Hogg Lane, with the second lane turned into a cycle lane. The second option was to keep the two lanes as now, on West Street.

Option one received 20 per cent of the votes, 53 people, while option two received 64 per cent, 173 votes. Thirteen per cent liked neither and three per cent did not make a selection.

There was strong opposition to building out the West Street/Bay Hogg Lane junction with safety and congestion concerns raised.

At a drop-in session held at the Edith Lyle Hall in West Quay Road, Roger Ives from Poole Marine Services was one of those in favour of option two.

“A single lane is going to end up with congestion further up the road,” he said.

The council’s transportation advisory group recommended the portfolio holder approves option two, keeping the two lanes feeding Poole Bridge and the Twin Sails Bridge.

Julian McLaughlin, head of transportation services said: “Following the recent public consultation exercise, we received significant public support for the option which provided safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists while retaining the two lanes through the West Street.

“We are looking to implement these as quickly as possible, within the available budget, subject to the decision being made by the relevant portfolio holder.”

Cabinet portfolio holder Cllr Xena Dion was due to make the decision today.