ALL entrances to Poole Park finally reopened to traffic yesterday (Wednesday, November 25), for the first time since work started on this phase of the £2.7 million revamp in March

The completion of work on the road leading through the Victorian park marks a significant step in the four-year Poole Park Life project.

It means the vehicle entrance at the East Gate, near Poole Civic Centre, is back in business – with all three park gates now open to vehicles between 10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday.

A Poole Park Life spokesman said: "There will continue to be some occasional localised closures for short periods whilst work continues to lay the final surfacing, plant trees along the avenue, install and connect the new lighting columns, install bollards and other street furniture.

"The heritage textured surfacing has started to be laid, providing a high quality look and feel to the paths in important areas.

"This system lays down resin on top of the tarmac surface and then casts aggregate across the top."

However, vehicular access from Whitecliff Road through Keyhole Bridge has not been reinstated.

This closure is part of a temporary traffic experiment and remains under review and open to public comment.

The aim of the trial, BCP Council says, is to create a safer environment to travel on foot or by bicycle.

A further aim is to reduce the number of vehicles driving through the park itself.

These changes are currently temporary, with residents able to have their say on on them up until February 21 next year.

After then a decision will be made on whether to make them permanent.

Meanwhile, project bosses say tarmac resurfacing around Poole Park's cricket pitch and cycle track has had to be put on hold due to the "incredibly high water table."

Some tarmac was laid a number of weeks ago but recent heavy rainfall and the inability to effectively drain the water anywhere makes any further works impossible at this time, they said.

Contractors have also had to re-lay some sections of kerbs because they were floating on saturated ground.

The spokesman said: "All of the grass areas are incredibly soft and we really appreciate people staying on the main walkways where possible.

"Thank you for your on-going patience during the construction works."

The four-year Poole Park Life project has already seen the restoration of the war memorial and maintenance work at the old swimming pool site at the end of Park Lake Road.

Most of the funding for the scheme has come from a successful Heritage Lottery Funding bid.