A FINAL bid to overturn the controversial reopening of a Poole road to traffic has failed.

BCP Council’s scrutiny board narrowly voted against extending the Keyhole Bridge traffic order on Monday with councillors saying the evidence had been considered “thoroughly”.

The decision paves the way for the imminent reopening of Whitecliff Road, having first been approved by the cabinet member for transport, councillor Mike Greene, in January.

Despite an impact assessment saying it would have “major negative impacts,” Cllr Greene said it was adding to congestion in nearby roads.

He said this was exacerbating issues with air pollution in these areas and extending journey times.

However, supporters of the closure have criticised his use of traffic data from 2016 in his judgement.

The traffic order was one of several introduced by the previous Unity Alliance administration in the summer under a government scheme to encourage more people to walk and cycle.

But it divided opinion, including among the councillors who represent the two wards in which the bridge falls.

The three Poole Town councillors have backed the closure while the two representing neighbouring Parkstone have called for the road to be reopened.

Cllr Greene supported the view of the latter when he agreed to end the closure in January.

But this decision was challenged by 12 councillors who criticised the “opaque” process through which it was reached.

They called it in for further consideration by the council’s scrutiny board at its meeting on Monday.

Former cabinet member councillor Andy Hadley, one of the three Poole Town ward councillors, said at the meeting that a “huge” number of people were now using the route due to the absence of cars.

Others queried Cllr Greene’s use of data from a 2016 survey to inform his decision.

And former council leader councillor Vikki Slade called for the traffic order to be kept in place for the full 18-month period to allow more information to be gathered.

However, her proposal to make this recommendation to the cabinet was defeated by eight votes to seven.

Among those who voted against Cllr Slade’s suggestion was board chairman councillor Stephen Bartlett who said the original decision should be respected.

“At the end of the day you’ve got to allow portfolio holders to make a decision and I think in this case he has very thoroughly gone through the evidence,” he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Greene confirmed the road could now immediately be reopened and that he would now discuss the arrangements for doing so with council officers.