Evening Hill active travel works almost finished in Poole

Work on Shore Road, Sandbanks Road and the intervening Alington Road has been ongoing since April, during which time a protected cycle lane has been made permanent and a new zebra crossing has been installed.

BCP Council introduced a trial protected cycle lane up Evening Hill, Poole, in July 2020 for six months before making the move permanent through an emergency active travel fund. The lane resulted in the loss of 43 on-street parking spaces.

In response to concerns that the loss of parking prevented access for disabled visitors, the council decided to introduce the zebra crossing and three nearby disabled parking bays in Alington Road as well as four in Shore Road.

Active travel works at Shore Road and Sandbanks Road off Evening Hill in Poole

While the zebra crossing and road widening at the junction with Alington Road is mostly finished, attention will now turn to the disabled parking provisions following the approval of a Traffic Order.

However, the placement of the zebra crossing has drawn some criticism for being too close to Alington Road. One resident said: “Should be interesting seeing people on bikes [and] in cars braking as they approach the crossing. Surely a bit further down would be safer?”

A council rebuttal said: “This is the optimum spot for good visibility and improving safety whilst providing accessibility to the green space.”

The new parking measures were subject to a public consultation in February in which three comments, all objections, were submitted.

Active travel works at Shore Road and Sandbanks Road off Evening Hill in Poole

Most notable was from East Dorset Sailing Club (EDSC) who said: “We read the decision and were shocked to find that EDSC, which has occupied the site for 147 years, barely received a mention.

“When traffic stops at the new zebra crossing, vehicles may well end up queuing across the entrance to the car park, temporarily blocking entry and exit, and further adding to our access concerns.”

The Traffic Order officer said: “In this case, the zebra crossing is some distance away from the entrance and it is unlikely that the vehicle queues resulting from the crossing will extend that far.

“Should queuing become a significant issue, then a ‘keep clear’ marking could be considered.”

New zebra crossing in Shore Road, Poole

On the status of the works, a council spokesperson told the Echo: “The newly installed zebra crossing on Shore Road is now complete. The carriageway has also been resurfaced. The separated cycle lane is now a permanent addition to Evening Hill, with brand-new cycle wands to mark the lane.

“New lighting and minor works to improve visibility have also been completed. These changes will help to create a safer environment for everyone choosing to walk or cycle on Evening Hill.

“The construction of three disabled parking bays, forms phase two of the project. The Traffic Regulation Order has been approved for these proposals and work on this phase will be scheduled at the first available opportunity.”