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Bournemouth Spur road delays as reptiles are rescued (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Bournemouth Spur road delays as reptiles are rescued
7:20am Tuesday 10th November 2009
DRIVERS on the Spur Road face more delays so workmen can rescue rare reptiles.
The road has been reduced to one lane so workmen can safely collect sand lizards and slow-worms from the grass verges. Both are protected under UK and European Law.
Frustrated commuters are seeking alternative routes but conservationists said the work is essential.
The work on the 6.5 mile stretch between Ashley Heath and Cooper Dean started yesterday causing delays of around 30 minutes at rush hour.
A 29-year-old Verwood mum said: “I was shocked because I didn’t know anything about it and I was late for work.
“The road was cordoned off but I couldn’t see anyone doing any work.”
A 33-year-old Ringwood motorist said: “I was a good 30-40 minutes late. I had to turn down Matchams Lane but that was chocka.”
Removed The animals need to be rescued now because Dorset County Council is planning £26 million roadworks on the A338 next autumn that will destroy their habitat.
A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “A lot have already been removed and the rest have gone into hibernation.
“The verges need to cut back to ensure there are no trees for birds to nest and it also it makes it easier to pick up the reptiles.”
Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade, said the work is necessary but acknowledged: “There will be members who care little about reptiles.”
John Wilkinson, from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation in Boscombe, said: “I travel in from Verwood and it can obviously be pretty irritating when you get held up.
“But Dorset has the most important populations of these species in the country.
“If they were Ospreys then perhaps motorists would have a different view. They are just as rare.”
Christchurch Borough councillor David Fox, who is also Dorset county councillor for the Hurn area, said: “Anyone with sat nav will start to go down Matchams Lane, but that’s not really fit for traffic.”
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Your Say YourEcho
ben111, Ringwood says...
9:01am Tue 10 Nov 09
AKKA, Poole says...
10:39am Tue 10 Nov 09
charley farley west parley, bournemouth says...
9:44pm Tue 10 Nov 09
A generic story to go along with reports of the chaos a bit of snow causes, how the weather man got the bank holiday forecast wrong, how it's going to be the best summer since records began after one suinny day etc etc.
If you dont like traffic jams start planning to rely on the car less. Live nearer work,cycle more and use the bus.
Nobody has the right to get in their car,travel unhindered between a and b and park wherever they want to. It only works like that if youre the only car on the road.
Unfortunately there are thousands of motorists on the road that think just that and thats why there is no pleasure in driving anymore.
DorsetEco, Christchurch says...
11:34pm Tue 10 Nov 09
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ferret38, bournemouth says...
8:43am Tue 10 Nov 09