I HAVE been following Poole council’s recent proposals for development in the north of the borough with great interest, particularly as so far there seems to be little mention of new social and technical infrastructure to support these new homes.

A great many of these homes (if they are ever built) will have a direct impact on the infrastructure and services of neighbouring Wimborne, which itself is set to receive up to 1,600 homes in the same period. The town could effectively be pincered by up to 7,000 new homes over the next 15 years.

This scenario is compounded by years of concentrating employment, retail and leisure provision primarily within Bournemouth and Poole, which has led to a situation where many of the 22,000 or so residents in the immediate vicinity of Wimborne and Merley have to travel to Poole or Bournemouth for work and shopping.

Anyone who has tried to commute via Gravel Hill or Canford Bottom during rush hour will know that without significant transport investment occurring, this many new houses would create complete gridlock on our already creaking local road network.

It’s time to reexamine and seek out funding for the twice-shelved A31-to-Poole link road, which along with improved public transport is the key to unlocking this much housing stock.

It’s not just roads, though. A joined-up approach needs to be taken by the Borough of Poole, Dorset County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership to encourage job creation and employment sites closer to Wimborne. Any new major housing schemes should redirect developer contributions towards blue sky projects such as rapid transit across the conurbation.

Fareham Borough Council is in the throes of finalising the plans for a new 6,000-home community at Welborne.

The major difference between Fareham and Poole’s proposals is that the £1 billion Welborne scheme will benefit from £300 million of preplanned workplaces, schools, green spaces, shops and local community services as well as all the necessary associated highways and transport infrastructure.

Poole’s plans have far-reaching repercussions beyond its own boundaries and action needs to be taken before we repeat the another Canford Heath scenario.

AARON GIBSON

Comber Road, Bournemouth

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