7:20am Tuesday 10th November 2009
By Stephen Bailey
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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