BCP COUNCIL has published plans to add a 20mph speed limit to roads in Bournemouth town centre.
Under the plans, the speed limit will be added to the West Hill area, on Durley Road, West Hill Road and Somerville Road, and it will be enforced from the end of the year.
The stated reason for the new speed limit is to "deliver road safety improvements associated with the redevelopment of the former Durley Road Car Park".
This redevelopment was completed in November 2022, with the construction of West Cliff Mansions.
It built 44 one, two and three-bedroom homes, as a part of a joint regeneration venture between BCP Council and Muse Developments.
The funds for the work have come from the Bournemouth Development Company, the company formed in 2011 by the then Bournemouth Borough Council and Muse, to carry out the joint venture.
In addition to the speed limit, there will be traffic calming measures installed, including raised table speed bumps at the entrance to Somerville Road and across the junction of Durley Road and West Hill Road.
Additional speed cushions will be added on both Durley Road and West Hill Road.
A new pedestrian crossing will be added on Durley Road, near the junction with Somerville Road, on another raised table, and the existing puffin crossing on Durley Chine Road, near Somerville Road, will be upgraded to a toucan crossing.
Bikes will be allowed to travel in both directions along Somerville Road, which is currently one way for all traffic.
A BCP Council spokesperson said: “The proposed traffic calming measures form part of wider sustainable travel improvements in the area.
"These works will be funded using capital contributions already collected from the Bournemouth Development Company, who recently completed the West Cliff Mansions project.
“These particular enhancements are aimed at encouraging walking and cycling links in the neighbourhood by providing a lower-speed environment, new and enhanced controlled crossings and suitable facilities for all road users.
“The 20mph restriction is a permanent measure and is currently under the TRO (traffic regulation order) consultation. Once this has been approved, we aim to implement it once the works have been completed on site, estimated to be by the end of this year.”
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