Christchurch relief road project given £25k to fund 'feasibility study'

Councillors at Christchurch asked the county council to fund the study intended to revive plans for a relief road after a meeting at the end of last year.

Dorset County Council are the Highways Authority for the borough, responsible for the town's roads.

In December, Christchurch Council’s resources committee voted to once again explore plans to build a new relief road, after nearly 20 years.

Previous attempts to tackle the town’s traffic problems date back to 1993 and have included widening existing roads as well as building a brand new one, but an agreed solution is yet to be found.

The county council has now agreed to appoint consultants to undertake the Christchurch Relief Road Study.

Cllr Margaret Phipps, portfolio holder for the environment said: “We are delighted that the county council has agreed to undertake this study which will include identifying possible route options.

"The consultants will identify which option might fit in with the existing strategic road network, appraise the economic case and viability of a scheme, and take into account future housing and employment outlined in our Local Plan and the wider conurbation.

“I really do hope that this is the start to finding a robust solution to traffic congestion in Christchurch. A relief road is extremely important not only for our residents but for future growth and development of our local economy.”

It is hoped that the results of the Feasibility Study will be available in April.

Previous options include a route from the Stony Lane roundabout across the Avon Valley to link up with the A338 Spur Road north of Blackwater.

Another option is a much longer - and therefore potentially more expensive - route from the A35 near Somerford, running east of Burton, north of Sopley and joining the A338 next to the old Hurn railway station.

Two other routes, also looked at back in 1993, run nearer the town centre.