RESIDENTS who fear plans will turn the heart of Poole into “an enormous gyratory racetrack”, have put forward their own proposals.

Councillors will tomorrow be asked to approve the £930,000 scheme for the Marston Road/Bay Hog gyratory system, which will feed the new Twin Sails Bridge.

But the Party for Poole People says a much simpler, cheaper and less destructive alternative can be easily achieved and has written to every councillor.

Andy Hadley, who is a member of the party and of the Transition Town Poole Group, said: “This is not the vision that was sold to the people of Poole as the access to the second crossing of a boulevard road linked to the High Street by a series of pedestrian friendly links.”

Borough of Poole needs to start work by July to complete the road system in time for the opening of the bridge next year.

It means West Quay Road from Bay Hog Lane to the Marston Link will be one-way northbound, and for West Street from New Orchard to Bay Hog Lane one-way southbound.

But Mr Hadley says it is not necessary for at least another two years, by the transportation department’s own reckoning, is a 15-year-old design and does not fit in with modern urban centre design.

Mr hadley said: “Many other communities are busy taking gyratory systems out because of the racetrack environment they create.”

He also said that the first phase of work would take all southbound construction traffic along West Street, create a racetrack between the lights, be hostile and dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians and use significant developer contributions intended for other amenities.

Their alternative proposes no gyratory system and two-way traffic throughout, splitting the old town traffic from the bridges, less traffic lights and simplified junctions, with pedestrian and cycle links between the town and redevelopment area.

They are urging councillors to call a halt and reconsider their proposals for traffic in the old town.