THE CONTROVERSIAL reopening of a Poole road to motor vehicles was completed on Friday - but Poole residents have mixed views about the decision.

Keyhole Bridge in Whitecliff Road was reopened to traffic on Friday, March 5 following the removal of planters that had been in place last summer.

Conservative cabinet member for transport Cllr Mike Greene approved the move in January, and BCP Council's scrutiny board marginally voted against extending a traffic order which prevented motorised vehicles from using the route.

The decision was both welcomed and disapproved by many residents, with some citing concerns for safety.

Speaking to the Daily Echo on Saturday, March 6, Rachel Constantine, who lives in Poole with her daughter Trixie, said: "I think the bridge is a nightmare for traffic and I hate driving through it. I will avoid it at all costs. I would rather drive around and go to the other end and come out the other side, I hate it.

"I think it should be pedestrianised as it’s nice for people to walk through there and not worry about getting hit by a car."

David from Poole thinks that the reopening of the road to traffic is the right decision.

He said: "In this life you all get the for and against, the yin and the yang, but it seems to be that the ‘wokes’ seem to win everything these days, which is totally ridiculous, so keep it open.

"The bridge should be open to traffic. If you are, for example, an elderly person and you are incapacitated and can’t walk too far, you can get further down towards the park that way than you can by the edge of the park.

"It is shaded and not shaded depending on the time of the day, which means they can get there easily.

"So yes, I think that the bridge should be open."

Tom Davis, a Poole dog owner, wanted the road to remain closed.

He said: "It’s much easier for walkers and cyclists, and you see more people using it when it is closed. You want it to be safe. I don’t know many people who would drive through the bridge as they would rather walk to and around this area."

Poole resident Laura Renton said: "I used to use the bridge and I don’t currently, but it’s not been a mega issue and I don’t see an issue with it opening.

"It’s always been open for as long as I can remember. When I go out for a run, it is something you now have to think about, but I’ve never felt particularly unsafe."