THE decision of the council leaders of Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and East Dorset to promote and work to become one council is a great step forward for this conurbation. Aside from the obvious removal of administrative duplication, it will allow for better long term vision and strategic planning.

At this moment in time, there is no better illustration of the need for a better vision for the future than to sit in traffic jams on our conurbation’s roads, almost at gridlock, with seemingly uncorrelated roadworks around every corner!

Other major cities in this the country and the world have achieved, or are planning, advanced public tram/light rail and other transport systems. These major infrastructure projects take decades to achieve but, if there is no plan there, they will never happen at all.

Time for joined up thinking and to give us a local government set-up which can address the problems of a conurbation of 450,000 people and ensure a sustainable future for this very special part of the world.

DOUGLAS EYRE

Unite the Conurbation, Kirby Way, Bournemouth