A NEW sustainable shared walking and cycle travel route through Poole is open for use after months of work – with a final phase to begin next year.

The government-funded Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) project along Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road in north Poole has made good progress with the initial phases of work completed.

Running for 3.7 kilometres from the junction of Queen Anne Drive and Gravel Hill all the way to Knighton Lane at the western entrance to Bearwood, the route has several new active travel facilities.

Improvements made so far include:

  • A new shared cycle and walking path along the whole length of Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road as far as the Knighton Lane junction
  • Junction improvements where joining roads meet Queen Anne Drive and Magna Road with safer crossings for cyclists and walkers
  • New toucan crossings and light-controlled crossings at the Canford Magna junction
  • Refurbished and improved bus shelters with raised access to make it easier to get on and off buses
  • Textured paving to assist disabled and sight impaired users
  • Clearer signs and markings along the route

Bournemouth Echo: New walking, cycling and bus improvements along Queen Anne Drive / Magna RoadNew walking, cycling and bus improvements along Queen Anne Drive / Magna Road (Image: BCP Council)

Cllr Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, stressed that the encouragment of sustainable travel will see a reduction in traffic levels in the area.

He said: “With two proposed housing developments about to be built in the area, this is a great opportunity to implement sustainable travel infrastructure and encourage the new home-owners to adopt cycling, walking, scooting and taking the bus to work, leisure and education.”

The work, however, has not come without critics. One woman described the work as an “absolute nightmare”, adding: “The two sets of lights within 100m are causing stupidly long queues every day. It’s made it ten times worse trying to get to work on time.”

Another person said he recently saw a cyclist riding on the road instead of the shared cycle lane directly next to it.

Bournemouth Echo: New walking, cycling and bus improvements along Queen Anne Drive / Magna RoadNew walking, cycling and bus improvements along Queen Anne Drive / Magna Road (Image: BCP Council)

Others, meanwhile, have found positives. “For many years my husband commuted to work on this road”, one woman said. “He and I would have been very happy if these improvements had been made then.”

Mrs Katherine Anstey, headteacher of Merley First School, added: “The children’s safety is of course of paramount importance to us, so these new facilities, safely separated from the road, will hopefully encourage more families to adopt an active form of travel for the school run.”

Work will recommence on the final section of the project along Magna Road, from the Knighton Lane junction to the Bear Cross roundabout, in spring 2023.

The break in work is needed to enable Taylor Wimpey to undertake road and junction improvements at the Magna Road/Knighton Lane junction including a new entrance into the new Canford Park housing development.