Parkstone residents demand changes to 'lethal' roundabout months after death of pedestrian

A newly formed Seaview Action Group is planning to protest next month and more than 260 people have signed an e-petition calling for the council to re-evaluate the layout of the roundabout after local resident Dave Dixon, 68, was in a collision with a car there in October last year.

The 68-year-old, a well-liked local man, suffered severe head injuries and died in hospital following the accident near the four-arm mini-roundabout at the junction of Ashley Road and Constitution Hill Road.

The roundabout was revamped by Borough of Poole as part of the £12.1million Three Towns Travel project, and has three pedestrian crossings and four bus stops in close proximity.

The ‘naked road’ approach with limited road markings has proved controversial and been criticised as dangerous and badly designed by some users.

Marty Caine, of the political group Poole Independents, was a friend of Mr Dixon’s and is spear-heading the action.

He said: “We know it’s lethal – there has already been one fatality.

“I know if something is not done about it soon another serious accident is going to happen.”

His views are backed by others via the action group’s Facebook page and the e-petition site, where criticisms include poor visibility of the crossings, especially at night, and their proximity to the roundabout.

One said: “As a driver approaching from any direction it’s the worst layout I have ever used.

“It’s so dangerous.”

Another said they were “nearly hit on the pedestrian crossing across Seaview Road” adding, “One driver coming off the roundabout saw me but the driver coming up Sea View Road didn’t – it was a very close near-miss!”

“What was wrong with the old layout?” commented one. “Putting a bus stop on a small busy roundabout is total madness.”

Seaview Action Group is to hold a public protest at the roundabout on Saturday, March 7.

Borough of Poole had not commented at the time of going to press.