BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 11 JUNE 2009
REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
PROPOSALS FOR HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT AT POOLE ROAD
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN – NO
STATUS (Service Delivery)
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PURPOSE AND POLICY CONTEXT
1.1 To consider a proposal to widen Poole Road, in the vicinity of Pottery Junction,
in order to create a two lane exit from the roundabout.
1.2 The Government has developed and agreed with the Local Government
Association four shared priorities for the delivery of transport strategy around
which the Local Transport Plan (LTP) was structured. The four shared priorities
are Congestion, Accessibility, Road Safety and Air Quality. Government
funding is provided over the course of the LTP to implement schemes which
deliver these objectives. It is a requirement to demonstrate ongoing progress in
these areas if this continued Government funding is to be assured.
1.3 The Strategy for delivery under the heading of congestion includes a number of
strands, with one of the main features being the improvement of traffic
movement along several Prime Transport Corridors (PTCs).
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DECISION REQUIRED
It is recommended that the Portfolio Holder be requested to :
2.1 Approve a scheme to widen Poole Road in the vicinity of Pottery Junction as
depicted on Drawing No. JC0725/06 at Appendix B.
2.2 Approve any further modifications arising from the subsequent detailed design,
if necessary, to meet the timescales of the Legal Agreement with Ravenside
Investments Ltd.
2.3 Request the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to enter into a Legal
Agreement for the dedication of the necessary land (shown hatched on
Drawing JC0725/06 at Appendix B) for the highway improvement.
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BACKGROUND
3.1 The first of the Prime Transport Corridors being considered is the main route
between Poole and Bournemouth Town Centres. The corridor concept looks at
improvements not only on the main A35 but also on the parallel alternative
routes of:

Ashley Road (Sea View - Redlands roundabout )

Station Road – Penn Hill Avenue – Leicester Road – Lindsay Road
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This is on the basis that improvement to parallel routes will enable better traffic
flow along the corridor as a whole.
3.2 Along this corridor improvements have already been implemented in the form
of:
(a) Lindsay Road/ Leicester Road junction – signal installation
(b) Penn Hill – simplification and reconfiguration of junction
And in addition works are currently underway at :
(c) Ashley Cross junction – reconfiguration of signals
(d) Commercial Road/ Station Road junction – signal installation.
3.3 The investigation of problems along Ashley Road is being undertaken and will
form the basis of a future report to this Committee.
3.4 As regards the A35, the route along Poole Road between Pottery Junction and
the County Gates gyratory is also being considered. It is anticipated that
proposals for improvement will be submitted to the July meeting of this Group.
3.5 John Lewis recently announced their intention to open a new store in the
Borough, to be located at the Poole Commerce Centre. The store will sell
products from its home sector, including electrical and home technology goods.
In this connection a Planning Application for refurbishment and modernisation
of an existing retail unit and associated car parking in Redlands is shortly to be
considered by the Planning Committee.
3.6 A Plan of the site of the proposed store, which is adjacent to the Pottery
Junction roundabout, is included at Appendix A.
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3.7 The exit from Pottery Junction to Poole Road is a regular source of traffic
congestion. The location of a pelican crossing, the nearby bus lay-by and only
one lane for traffic all contribute to the cause of this congestion.
EXISTING BUS LAY-BY IN POOLE ROAD, ADJACENT TO STORE
3.8 On the announcement that the planning submission will be submitted by John
Lewis, the opportunity was taken to approach their representatives to ascertain
whether they would be willing to offer some of their land for highway
improvements in this area. This would enable the existing bus lay-by to be
moved back and allow a two lane exit from the Pottery junction roundabout to
be created. This will have a very positive affect on reducing congestion at this
location.
3.9 Although there is no Planning obligation to do so Ravenside Investments Ltd,
who own the whole Business Park site, have agreed to release the necessary
land at nil cost to the Council. They recognise that improvement to the highway
here will assist in reducing congestion and therefore be an advantage for the
Business Park.
3.10 Both W&D and Yellow Buses have been consulted about the proposal and
they consider it would be a significant improvement.
3.11 The aim by John Lewis would be to ensure their store is open in the Autumn
before the build up to Christmas. The dedication is provided on the basis that
the associated highway improvement would be completed by the same time.
3.12 Due to the short timescale since learning of this opportunity it has not been
possible to undertake all the detailed investigations necessary before reporting
to Members. It is evident that retaining walls will be necessary and services will
need to be moved which are in the current footway.
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3.13 An outline plan of the proposed highway improvement is shown on Drawing
No. JC0725/06 at Appendix B. This has been designed to minimise land take
and the impact on Statutory Undertaker services, whilst achieving the highway
widening necessary.
3.14 Given the short timescale available since the John Lewis announcement
detailed design is still being undertaken, including liason with utilities and also
engineers from the store development with regards to tying in with their on site
works. While it is not anticipated that the final scheme will be significantly
different to that being described in this report, it is proposed that if there are
any considerable unforeseen problems then this be raised with the Portfolio
Holder if the timescale for the legal agreement is becoming critical.
3.15 Proposals for further improvements along Poole Road will be brought back to a
future meeting of this Group following consultation with ward members
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1 The cost of the scheme is approximately £150,000, more than the £100,000
budget currently allocated within the Transportation Capital Programme. It is
proposed, however, given the one-off opportunity arising from the dedication of
land by Ravenside Investments that this shortfall is made up by re-allocating
funding from elsewhere in the programme.
5 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 The dedication of the required land by Ravenside Investments will require
creation of a Legal Agreement. It will be necessary to instruct the Head of Legal
and Democratic Services to formulate the Agreement.
6 RISK MANAGEMENT
6.1 A full Safety Audit will be carried out before any proposals are implemented,
focussing primarily on the potential conflict between buses, other vehicles and
pedestrians within this area.
6.2 The short timescale before the store opens for business does mean that the
highway works are completed at the earliest opportunity. The occurrence of
Undertaker services in the footway will affect the programme. In order to reduce
the likely impact of this, contact has already been made with the relevant
Undertakers.
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EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
7.1 The new bus stop will incorporate raised kerbs.
7.2 It is anticipated that the ramped access within the adjacent site leading to the
lay-by, undertaken by the John Lewis, will be DDA compliant. This is shown on
Drawing JC0725/06 at Appendix B.
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CONCLUSION
8.1 That this scheme be progressed as a key element of the improvements along
the Primary Transport Corridor between Poole and Bournemouth
Julian McLaughlin
Head of Transportation Services
Appendix A – Drawing 151213-019 – Site of new development
Appendix B – Drawing No. JC0725/06 showing the highway widening
Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact
Graham Spicer (01202 262072)
Background Papers - none
11 June 2009
TAG110609T3B
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