A COMMUNITY in Poole have come out in support of the Active Travel scheme, saying their neighbourhood has experienced an “instantaneous improvement”.

Since Sunday, August 30, only buses and bicycles have been permitted to exit Birds Hill Road into Longfleet Road in Poole, while Churchfield Road has also become a no-through-road.

An online petition has been set up in support of BCP’s Unity Alliance and, within a week, has received over 250 signatures.

Kate Salter said: “Like the petition launched on change.org states, I believe the Unity Alliance have done a fantastic job despite the global pandemic and represent the wishes of the electorate, only 28 per cent of whom voted for a Conservative councillor to represent them.

“The Tories used the road closures as an opportunity to take control saying the UA had made decisions without due regard for residents.

"As a resident living in one of the roads which has been closed as part of the Unity Alliances response to the Covid Active Travel scheme, we requested this change, and after years of unsuccessful campaigns many residents in our roads are delighted to see this implemented for a trial.”

Because of the scheme residents say not only has the amount of traffic reduced, but the initiative has also allowed them to use their bicycles and mobility scooters safely.

A resident of Birds Hill Road said: “I personally headed the residents’ campaign to successfully restrict traffic entering Birds Hill from Longfleet Road and making the Parkstone Road end of Churchfield Road exit-only some twenty years ago.

“Birds Hill and Churchfield are residential feeder roads they are not intended to be suburban arterial roads as they have now become. Road transport policy should be evidence-based, and the evidence of traffic saturation and aggressive driver behaviour is all too apparent.

“Reducing these by implementing these recent alterations has been gratefully received by many residents."

Keith Simcox, a resident of Fernside Avenue, said: “‘It’s improved the road because you don’t have to worry about getting run over any more, whereas the traffic before never used to bother with the 20mph, and now it’s quite pleasant.

"I quite often use this road then onto Seldown road, which is quite quiet too because that’s blocked off to get into Poole on my mobility scooter.”

“Since the traffic restrictions have been in place for Churchfield Road, the lack of traffic, its visibility, noise, fumes, and risk of accidental harm has produced a more relaxed, peaceful environment,” said Maria Scruby, another resident of the area.

She added: “The effect on the residents is more communal and even friendly, supportive and communicative.

“It is undoubtedly so much more peaceful now, and indicative of how residential roads should be.”