MORE than half a million pounds of improvements aimed at encouraging Poole residents to use buses and trains are planned.

They include a major public interchange for buses at Sea View and improvements to Poole railway station and Vanguard Road.

The authorities of Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset’s joint Local Transport Plan for the conurbation successfully bid for £12million of government funding for improvements along the Three Towns Corridor.

A £525,000 scheme for Sea View would see a simplified road layout resulting in less congestion, better footpaths and improved pedestrian crossings, updated bus shelters with real time bus information, cycle parking, enhanced pedestrian access to the viewpoint and improved road safety.

The £121,000 scheme for Poole Railway Station will include blue badge parking under the Towngate Flyover, level pedestrian access to the railway station, dedicated 20-minute pick up/drop off parking, an improved bus stop, cycle parking, security CCTV either side of the subway, improved pedestrian and cycle signs and landscape improvements.

Subway enhancements are beyond the scope of the funding. However, the lighting will be upgraded as part of routine maintenance.

Cllr Ron Parker, chairman of Borough of Poole’s transportation advisory group said: “The committee recommended that the portfolio holder approve the enhancements at Poole Railway/Vanguard Road, the first in a series of schemes from the recently awarded Local Sustainable Transport Fund programme.

“Over the next three years, this exciting project will provide improvements to sustainable travel along the busy A35 corridor, making it easier to travel between Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.

“This particular part of the scheme will create a pick up/drop off and blue badge parking area, level pedestrian access, cycle facilities, improved signage and CCTV, encouraging more people to use the train as a means of travel across the conurbation,” he said.