AGENDA ITEM 6
BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – 27 OCTOBER 2011
TWO LIFTING BRIDGES OPENING TIMES: REPORT OF HEAD OF
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN:
STATUS: Service Delivery
1.
MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION & POLICY CONTEXT
1.1
To establish the lifting schedules for Poole Bridge and Twin Sails Bridge as
required under the Transport and Works Act Order
2.
RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1
It is recommended that this Group give its views to Council who will be
considering the proposed lifting schedules for the two bridge system at its
Meeting on 1 November 2011
3.
INFORMATION
3.1
While the two bridges system provided by the Twin Sails and Poole Lifting
bridges undoubtedly provides significant benefit for highway users, this is
potentially at the expense of additional time which will be required for mariners
to pass though the channel from Holes Bay to the main area of the harbour.
The balancing of these often conflicting needs was the subject of considerable
debate at the Public inquiry into the Transport and Works Act Order, following
which the Council agreed the following principles:
3.2

One bridge would remain open to highway traffic at all normal times excluding periods of bridge maintenance / break down, maritime
emergencies or the passage of vessels longer than 40m.

Additional lifts will be provided to give mariners greater choice of journey
time and reduce the number of boats using bridge lifts at peak times.

Lifting schedules would be proposed by the Bridges Operating Board,
established as a requirement of the Transport and Works Act Order, for
approval by the Council.
The Bridges Operating Board (BOB) has since developed schedules based on
the above principles, shown as Appendix 1. The Board has five members with
a mix of maritime and highway interests, and as these proposals were
supported unanimously it can be considered that these reasonably reflect the
interests of all users.
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3.3
Four schedules are proposed as shown in Appendix 1.
 Schedule 1 applies while the bridge is being constructed
This covers the remaining period of the bridge construction programme when
the navigation channel passes though the opening spans while the bridge is
still under not complete or part of the highway network.
Schedules 2 to 4 will apply when the bridge is complete and fully operational
as follows:

Schedule 2 - covers the winter period (1st October to 31st March).

Schedule 3 – covers the summer period (1st April to 30th September)

Schedule 4 – covers summer weekend and bank holidays only.
3.4
The construction of the bridge is currently on programme for completion in
January 2012. A key milestone of the project was reached in October when
the navigation channel was moved to its final position through the centre
opening span. The first of the proposed schedules will be required for the
remainder of the construction period with the final three schedules coming into
effect following completion of the bridge.
3.5
An information strategy is currently being developed to ensure that Members
and the general public, local residents and mariners ( in particular those with a
berth in Holes Bay ) are fully aware of the lifting arrangements for the two
bridge system. It is proposed that the strategy will include:




Briefing for Members
Leaflet for mariners
Information of the Council’s website
Use of local printed media
3.6
Decisions on the operation of the two bridge system are currently a matter for
Council based on recommendations from BOB. A report is being presented to
Council on 1 November 2011 seeking approval for delegation to Cabinet,
following the recommendation of the BOB, of matters relating to the two
bridge systems with the proposal that urgent or minor changes to the
operating schedules be delegated to the Head of Transportation Services in
consultation with the Portfolio Holder
4.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
4.1
There are no additional funding implications associated with this proposal as
the costs for operating the two bridge system are included in the Council’s
current medium term revenue budget.
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5.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1
The Transport and Works Act Order titled “The Borough of Poole (Poole
Harbour Opening Bridges Order 2006)” covers the operation of the two bridge
system
6.
RISK MANAGEMENT
6.1
N/A
7.
EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
7.1
There are no equalities issues associated with the contents of this report
8.
CONCLUSIONS
8.1
The making of the decision based on the contents of this report will allow the
new two bridge system to be brought into use when the Twin Sails bridge is
completed in January 2012.
Julian McLaughlin
Head of Transportation
Name and telephone Number of Officer Contact: John Rice (01202 262111)
TAG271011T3G
Appendix 1 – Lifting Schedules
Background Documents :
The Borough of Poole (Poole Harbour Opening Bridges Order 2006) - available
to Members on request.
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