FUNDING for £5.7million of works to Canford Bottom roundabout, part of the 2012 Olympic network, has been approved.

Bosses at the Highways Agency officially got the cash to correct the traffic bottleneck between Wimborne and Ferndown this week.

With less than 500 days until the games begin and an expected 60,000 cars a day start travelling down the A31 to catch the sailing events in Weymouth, their next job is to inform residents of the changes.

Plans to ease congestion include widening the A31, cutting a dual carriageway through the roundabout, building a walkway with ‘toucan crossings’ and putting in more lights.

Dorset County councillor for Ferndown John Wilson welcomed the move saying more signals would bring ‘dramatic’ benefits and help many elderly people who are ‘petrified’ of the notorious roundabout.

“I certainly think this is a good thing for the area,” he said. “It will undoubtedly create faster speeds at peak times on the A31 and that is a benefit. As far as the local area is concerned there are difficulties going around that roundabout and I know people who take longer routes to avoid it. Signal controls should be reassuring for people.”

A Highways Agency spokesman said further details would be announced shortly.

Colehill Councillor Janet Dover, who supported a campaign against proposals to kill the roundabout’s rabbit population, raised concerns about the level of public consultation.

She said: “I am worried about how much interaction there will be between the Highways Agency and local people.

“They are a government agency with no elected members. I worry about how accountable they will be to what local people want.”

Cllr Wilson said he was sure the Highways Agency would listen to people with any strong concerns, but added he would be surprised if any material changes could be made at this late stage.