A NEW road layout at a busy roundabout near Bournemouth Airport has left motorists confused, with a long-term resident suggesting there is a lack of “common sense”.

The £1.5m improvement scheme at Chapel Gate, which was due to be completed in December, has seen a number of changes on all arms of the roundabout.

Heading from West Parley, traffic is now divided into three lanes, with the left-hand lane for vehicles going to Bournemouth Aviation Park and two lanes for traffic heading towards Hurn.

However, motorists are forced to merge into one single lane in a matter of yards as they enter Parley Lane.

Heading towards the roundabout from Hurn, a new slip road onto Christchurch Road has been created, with a larger space for traffic to merge from Aviation Park, but there remains a left-hand turn signal painted at the roundabout from the Parley Lane arm.

From the Aviation Park, despite there only being two lanes, traffic is able to turn left onto Parley Lane from the right-hand lane.

Mike Phipp, Bournemouth Airport historian and long-term user of the Chapel Gate roundabout, said he could not understand the thought process behind the new layout.

"They spent all this money to improve traffic flow and it's got a bit crazy.

"To me it all seems very strange. Someone has got there head in a spin. Common sense has gone out the window."

The confusing road layout is the latest issue raised with the scheme.

As reported by the Daily Echo the development, which is part of the £45m Bournemouth International Growth Programme, has proved to be troublesome for council chiefs.

After initially boasting the works would be completed ahead of schedule, it was discovered the road surface was not fit for purpose.

Further remedial work has now been scheduled to take place before the Easter holidays.

The road surface deteriorated in a matter of days, although Dorset County Council said the repairs are needed for "a combination of factors".

Cllr Daryl Turner, Dorset County Council cabinet member for the natural and built environment, said: “The new layout at Chapel Gate has been designed to help traffic flow along the B3073 but within the constraints of the site.

“The merge lane towards Hurn has been designed to comply with the airports passive safety zone and wig-wag stop line, and the slip lane has been designed to provide less disruption for traffic travelling towards Parley.

“We appreciate that the roundabout has been changed, and will take some time to get used to, but all these elements can be found on roads across Dorset and shouldn’t be new to drivers.

“As with all new road schemes, we will be monitoring the new roundabout layout to assess its safety over the coming months. However, drivers should remember that the full benefit of these improvements won’t be seen until work is completed on the B3073 at Parley Cross and Hurn.”