THE decision to reopen a Poole road to traffic will be reviewed next week after councillors said the process had been “opaque” and “prejudged”.

Despite hundreds of people objecting to lifting the closure of Whitecliff Road at Keyhole Bridge, BCP Council’s cabinet member for transport approved it last month.

But 12 councillors have called in the decision for further consideration, saying it showed “flagrant disregard” for both local and national policy.

“The decision-making process has been opaque,” their submission said. “It appears that the outcome was prejudged and the process manipulated to attempt to fit that desired outcome despite the evidence.”

The road was one of several closed through emergency traffic orders by the previous Unity Alliance administration last summer in a bid to encourage more people to walk and cycle.

Opinion has been split on its effectiveness, with the measure being supported by Poole Town ward councillors but not by those who represent Parkstone. The road straddles the boundary of both areas.

It had been brought in on a trial for up to 18 months with a review promised after six months.

But last month cabinet member for transport, councillor Mike Greene, decided to remove it early, saying it was causing “significant” congestion and increased pollution on other routes.

The decision was made despite an impact assessment saying it would have “major negative impacts” on health, the environment and accessibility.

A consultation launched at the same time, drew more than 400 responses, the vast majority of which disagreed with the lifting of the closure.

“I cannot see any reason to remove this measure,” Jason Falconer, the chairman of BH Active Travel, said. “Overwhelmingly, BH14 residents have greatly enjoyed this intervention.

“Removing it for the convenience of a few, over the benefits to many shows extremely limited consideration of the bigger picture.”

Twelve councillors have called the decision in for review and it will now be looked at by the council’s scrutiny board on Monday.

"The portfolio holder is very selective in his choice of evidence, and this argument flies in the face of his ambitions under Transforming Travel," they said.

Members of the board will be asked to “review and scrutinise” the decision and “determine whether to offer any advice to the cabinet”.

The council’s cabinet will not be bound to any judgement it makes.