Go ahead for Poole's Twin Sails Bridge (From Bournemouth Echo)
When news happens text pix and video to 80360. Start your message with BE then leave a space.
Don't miss our new Youth Sport supplement every Thursday inside your Echo 
Daily Echo on FacebookAll of today's content from across the site, all in one place at bournemouthecho.co.uk/today
Go ahead for Poole's Twin Sails Bridge
9:59am Saturday 13th March 2010 in
AT LAST! Poole’s long-awaited Twin Sails Bridge became a reality as a crucial £14.1 million government grant was finally confirmed on Friday.
The funding marks the final piece of the jigsaw for the much-vaunted scheme, which the council hopes will regenerate and revitalise the town.
Work is due to start in early summer and the second harbour crossing should be ready to open in early 2012.
Cllr Brian Leverett, leader of Poole council, said it was a historic day for the town.
The world-class bridge is a symbol of our ambition for the town
Cllr Brian Leverett, leader of Poole council
“It marks the culmination of many years of hard work,” he said. “The world-class bridge is a symbol of our ambition for the town.”
A failure to secure the government grant could have scuppered the bridge, so the delay in the Department of Transport’s announcement had been a nerve-wracking one.
It is hoped the ambitious scheme will now prove the catalyst for £600 million of development, creating 2,000 homes, 5,000 jobs and a new waterfront area.
Poole MP Robert Syms said he was “delighted” the project could move forward, while Annette Brooke, MP for Mid-Dorset & Poole North, said it was “important” news for the town.
A contractor for the work was approved earlier this year, but cannot yet be named.
The only potential banana skin for the scheme now is if other bidders object to the tendering process.
Cllr Ron Parker, Poole council’s cabinet member for the economy, said the details would be finalised in the “next few weeks”.
Poole has sought a second harbour crossing for more than 30 years.
Cllr Mike Brooke, leader of Poole’s Liberal Democrat group, said the Twin Sails bridge would “open up great opportunities” for the town.
• See Saturday’s Daily Echo for more on this story…
Comments(27)
Syd Poumen
says...
10:24am Sat 13 Mar 10
Maybe unity of purpose finally achieved this. Apt security word is 'hope-hang'.
Gastines
says...
11:12am Sat 13 Mar 10
vodkaholic
says...
11:58am Sat 13 Mar 10
Dorset_Born_n_Bread !
says...
12:04pm Sat 13 Mar 10
The only potential banana skin for the scheme now is if other bidders object to the tendering process.
- Yup, now the Echo have told them how to slow it down or even have 2nd bite of the apple this will be the banana skin they have been looking for? Contractors 1 - Poole Town 0.
An up and Over bridge seems viable but wont win with tourists (bridge spotters?) and pess-off truck drivers and other traffic looking for a quick route to/from the port. Lets hope the Holes Bay road system gets an upgrade to help filter traffic in and out of the town properly and not so confusing bottlenecks at Towngate junctions!
Dorset_Born_n_Bread !
says...
12:11pm Sat 13 Mar 10
I can hear it now, just like a triangle, surf reef and the 'water music' scrap metal sculpture in the Quay they will be flocking in to see the bridge alone right? Artists impression: dreamy and rose tinted.......good luck Poole!
MJD
says...
12:39pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Gastines wrote:No we don't want Brittany Ferries, they are way too expensive company, that's why they died. Get LD lines. With low fares and fill the boat. Nothing to do with the roads. It cheaper for me to go from Portsmouth than Poole by a £100 Car & 4 passengers.
Now hopefully someone will wake up to the loss Brittany Ferries leaving Poole made to port income.Add a decent road system and you might even encourage them back. Might be worth the local Councillors and Port Authority pursueing P&O/Norfolk line from Dover, as they are having serious problems with the Dover P.A. there over hefty increases in charges. This time perhaps there is no excuse for the famous sayings of the day"We didn't see that coming" or "Lessons will be learnt".
Inner Sanctum
says...
12:48pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Lets get positive about this amount of money being unlocked and poured into the local economy.
2Much...again!
says...
3:00pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Let's hope it rolls out to other towns.
BROCKSDAD
says...
4:08pm Sat 13 Mar 10
twobigdogs
says...
4:26pm Sat 13 Mar 10
Jewson Smithee
says...
9:17pm Sat 13 Mar 10
peter beneather benifit cheater
says...
8:05am Sun 14 Mar 10
please go back to bed now we have all heard enough of you bleating.
l'anglais
says...
8:16am Sun 14 Mar 10
It would be more economically viable for the local economy, if it was a new crossing from the haven to shell bay. However that would never get past the National Trust & Sandbanks cronies.
BH10et
says...
12:16pm Sun 14 Mar 10
.
MJD, may I suggest you check prices in comparison with LD and BF. You will find that LD are/will be taking advantage of the BF demise from Poole. Already prices have increased, add on the extra travelling, and there is not a lot of difference. Read the AngloInfo Bretagne website to read more on this matter. You may have one of the last cheap tickets.
MJD
says...
12:40pm Sun 14 Mar 10
BH10et wrote:Well i don't know. Booked last week online for Le Havre, for the end of July and its the same fare as i Paid in February. Still a saving of £100 After paying for fuel.
Why is there emphasis on the bridge now that the ferry service from Poole has been removed. One of the main reasons for the bridge was to cope with the heavy traffic of lorries to the port. Will Poole Council get a ferry service back into Poole as it was before. Poole needs more than the Vitesse as it now has, and an all year round service. . MJD, may I suggest you check prices in comparison with LD and BF. You will find that LD are/will be taking advantage of the BF demise from Poole. Already prices have increased, add on the extra travelling, and there is not a lot of difference. Read the AngloInfo Bretagne website to read more on this matter. You may have one of the last cheap tickets.
BH10et
says...
1:25pm Sun 14 Mar 10
MJD
says...
1:53pm Sun 14 Mar 10
BH10et wrote:All i have paid is £118 car +2pax last week of July return. Not fast cat.
MJD, an example. Departing 2nd Aug, Returning 13th Aug, 1 Car, 2 Pax, 1 Pet Dog. LD £381, BF £401. This is using the Cat from both ports. £20 difference, but I will have to add on fuel Bournemouth to Portsmouth return, and the extra mileage on the French side, plus longer sailing times. As I said, the LD price has increased since I last looked and considered that option.
upontown
says...
4:18pm Sun 14 Mar 10
stakeholder1
says...
5:45pm Sun 14 Mar 10
The bridge is great news for Hamworthy especially and proves that all three main political parties, can actually work together - good luck.
stakeholder1
says...
5:45pm Sun 14 Mar 10
The bridge is great news for Hamworthy especially and proves that all three main political parties, can actually work together - good luck.
BH10et
says...
6:12pm Sun 14 Mar 10
MJD wrote:That is a good price, but I have just looked on LD, departing 23rd July, returning 30th July, 1 Car, 2 Pax, price £319. That is aboard the ferry, Cote de Albatre, and not HS Cat. That is a big difference. As I said, had the bridge and the roads been dealt with much sooner, perhaps BF would have stayed put. It will be interesting to see what the out come will be when the bridge is completed.
BH10et wrote:All i have paid is £118 car +2pax last week of July return. Not fast cat.
MJD, an example. Departing 2nd Aug, Returning 13th Aug, 1 Car, 2 Pax, 1 Pet Dog. LD £381, BF £401. This is using the Cat from both ports. £20 difference, but I will have to add on fuel Bournemouth to Portsmouth return, and the extra mileage on the French side, plus longer sailing times. As I said, the LD price has increased since I last looked and considered that option.
fossilmole
says...
9:37pm Sun 14 Mar 10
th have the full motorway system Poole has the A31/A35 mess which still represents 1960's motoring in many places. New bridge ..lovely. But what leads commercial transport to wish to get to it in the first place? Also lots of jobs ..for a time and developers who will have made a fortune from the old power station land. Will the '2 snails' bridge still be 'iconic' when it reaches the same age as the old one?
grimreaper
says...
1:03am Mon 15 Mar 10
.
The port of Poole is DEAD !
.
Just fill it in and keep up ??
.
Tide and Time wait for WHO ??
.
The whole process has taken so long it's 20 years out of date !!
peter beneather benifit cheater
says...
1:18pm Mon 15 Mar 10
benjamin
says...
1:35pm Tue 16 Mar 10
yankee
says...
7:26pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Far, far too complicated.
Vanity. When will the mandarins ever learn?
More News stories
- Pensioner dies after four-car collision on A31
- Wimborne Cemetery wins rates fight battle
- Condor Ferries moves sailings from Weymouth to Poole amid berth fears
- Anger at Poole school's "suicide lessons"
- Police investigate pensioner's death
- Winton Zumba teacher overcomes dyslexia to publish book
- Poole campaigners get recreation ground protection backing
- Bournemouth Holocaust survivors offered help
- Tower Park catering van man is a lifesaver
- Learn more about owls at RSPB events in Bournemouth and Poole
TWIN TOWN: Poole has landed a government grant of £14.1 million for the Twin Sails bridge
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
MJD says...
10:22am Sat 13 Mar 10