A WOMAN has launched a petition and is calling the monarch for support after it was announced one of the entrances to Poole Park will close to traffic as part of a trialled consultation.
Susan Lennon, 67, is campaigning for all entrances to the park to remain open and said the closure would be an ‘absolute nightmare’ for traffic.
Access to entrance and exit points of the park at Whitecliff Road and Twemlow Avenue are set to close on January 17 as BCP Council launches a consultation over whether the move should be made permanent.
The gate closure will be an extension to the current morning closures between 7.30am and 10am, Monday to Saturday.
“They've got temporary closures for certain hours, but I don't understand why they didn't do a consultation before and now they're going to do a consultation alongside temporary closing it,” said Susan.
“They're saying it's only a temporary closure for so many weeks, but I still think this is going to cause problems.”
She is also concerned that the temporary closure to one of the entrances will develop into closures of all the entrances to vehicles.
READ MORE: Poole Park entrance to be closed as council trial road closure
“I’ve been using that park for many years and three generations of my family have used it,” said Susan.
“But now that they’re doing this consultation, I’m worried that other parks have been closed to traffic completely.”
However, a BCP Council spokesperson said that there are no current plans to close the park to all vehicles.
According to Historic England, Poole Park was formally opened by the then Prince of Wales on January 18, 1890, and now Susan hopes for the King’s support.
“I don't understand why after 100 years, well, 134 years, they're going to do that.”
She added: “I'm really going to see if they [the Royal family] can come down and highlight the park in a good way.”
Susan hopes that either King Charles or Prince William will be able to visit Poole Park and promote its importance.
Her petition on change.org, ‘grant access to Poole Park permanently’, has so far gained 167 signatures in two days.
Andy Spicer commented on the petition: “The park was given to the people of Poole for promenading and for carriages and cars are today’s carriages.”
Michael Patrick said: “I do not agree with the way this has been done and as a park, access should be left alone.”
The council survey launches on January 17 and can be accessed on BCP Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ page.
The consultation will also open on January 17 and will close at midnight on February 13.
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