NEW bus stops and pedestrian crossings are part of the final phase of improvement works along Ashley Road starting on Monday.

Major works will be carried out in the central area of the main road through Parkstone, between Jubilee Road and Albert Road, to improve facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles as part of the Three Towns Project.

Separate on-road parking and bus lay-bys will be created to ensure that buses can easily pull in to enable traffic to continue flowing through, while pedestrians will soon have a centrally-located and ungraded signal-controlled crossing. Two refuge island crossings are also part of the plans.

Workmen will also install two new bus stops and shelters close to the Co-op store and Branksome and Upper Parkstone Conservative Club, which will include seating and satellite-linked real time information displays.

Cllr Ian Potter, Cabinet Portfolio for Transportation at Borough of Poole, said: “We have already completed improvements at the Mansfield Road and Richmond Road junctions.

“The works starting in September are the final phase of the £1million for improving travel in Ashley Road.

“We would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience and understanding while these improvements are carried out."

A spokesperson for Borough of Poole said that there are no planned road or junction closures, however there will be some temporary traffic lights for short periods of time outside of peak hours to enable certain works to be undertaken.

Branksome West ward councillor, Marion Le Poidevin, said that this phase, which is due to finish in November, and the rest of the works will make Ashley Road a much more pleasant area for shoppers.

She added: “Local people were involved in drawing up the scheme and I hope they will think that the end result makes any disruption while the job is in progress worthwhile."

The works were organised in response to a public engagement exercise held last year, which asked residents about their views about suggested improvements for the road.

Funding for them came from the £12.1million Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) awarded by the Department of Transport to improve sustainable travel between Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.