Call for help: 'dangerous' gyratory system has cut us off

5:00pm Monday 10th September 2012 in Latest By Diana Henderson

LIFELINE NEEDED: Practical Boat Owner editor Sarah Norbury with her team at the junction of Marston Road in Poole. Picture: Corin Messer LIFELINE NEEDED: Practical Boat Owner editor Sarah Norbury with her team at the junction of Marston Road in Poole. Picture: Corin Messer

Marooned in an office surrounded by racing traffic, Poole town centre staff are urging the council to throw them a lifeline.

The new road system feeding the two bridges has effectively cut off those who work in Westover House and other buildings, creating an island surrounded by fast moving traffic.

“It is extremely dangerous,” said Sarah Norbury, editor of Practical Boat Owner, who has missed her train on occasion because she has not been able to cross the road.

The building off Marston Road linking West Street and West Quay Road has created a one-way gyratory system for the Twin Sails Bridge and Poole Bridge, which has been described as a ‘racetrack’.

Those who work in the centre of it say they take their lives in their hands crossing the road, and are calling for signs urging the traffic to slow down, speed humps in West Quay Road and a pedestrian crossing on Marston Road.

Particularly dangerous is the crossing at the corner of Marston Road and West Quay Road, where fast traffic comes from two directions. “I have heard many people say someone will be killed here at some stage,” said Sarah. “The junction is a very scary place for pedestrians.”

Marc Rosenberg, news editor of Amateur Gardening said: “There has nearly been two head-on collisions with people going completely the wrong way on the system.”

Tim Rumball, Amateur Gardening editor said: “It’s really incredibly badly designed.”

Jenny Bagshaw, editor’s PA said with the traffic backed up at peak times, it was also impossible to get out onto West Quay Road, let alone get into the correct lane.

“Poole is not at all pedestrian friendly,” said Sally Charrett, deputy editor of Amateur Gardening.

Cllr Brian Clements, chairman of Borough of Poole’s economy overview and scrutiny committee, which is reviewing the two bridge road system, said: “The review should be taking account of all issues like that and coming forward with recommendations to try to make sure we have the best possible system for traffic and for people.”

Comments(16)

fedupwithfedupjobsworths says...
6:35pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Work from home ? It's a lot easier and working for a magazine I would have thought ideal where you are in front of a screen typing.

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FNS-man says...
6:37pm Mon 10 Sep 12

"The review should be taking account of all issues like that and coming forward with recommendations to try to make sure we have the best possible system for traffic and for people.”

Roughly translated as... if it's going to slow down the traffic at all or costs more than tuppence, you can forget it. Why don't you drive like normal people?

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robsmith123 says...
7:16pm Mon 10 Sep 12

this is a terrible report. where is the mention of the possible danger to children or the elderly ?????

3 crossed arms in one photograph - must be like **** for Corin !!

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ashleycross says...
8:56pm Mon 10 Sep 12

I quite agree that Poole is not at all pedestrian friendly. For years any moves to increase walking around the town or using a bicycle were blocked so that the government could be persuaded to let us have the new bridge because traffic jams were so bad.Obviously walking, cycling and bus/tram use would rmeove the jams so we wouldn't get our bridge! Now we have the bridge the 1950's attitude to pedestrians and cars is still there. Presumably to get us another bridge built!The last leaflet I had through my door asking me to join the party that controls Poole Council had some pictures of some hugely fat people on it and I kid you not, an enormous cake on the back page. Hardly the sort of people to make a walking and cycling a priority in the town. More to make it as hard as possible out of jealousy spite and resentment towards active responsible people.

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Chiqqy says...
10:14pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Have they not built an underpass ala Liverpool Victoria ?

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wilkiemini says...
7:42am Tue 11 Sep 12

As a frequent visitor to hamworthy via the twin sails bridge I'd have to agree the road is dangerous! Twice at the weekend I witnessed cars driving the wrong way on the one way system....it will kill someone it's only a matter of when

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LordLilliput says...
8:14am Tue 11 Sep 12

robsmith123 wrote:
this is a terrible report. where is the mention of the possible danger to children or the elderly ?????

3 crossed arms in one photograph - must be like **** for Corin !!
And not a single 'shocked' 'horrified' or 'terrified' either.. A real let down.

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MJD says...
9:11am Tue 11 Sep 12

As i first said many moons ago its a crap layout and wouldn't work..Certain articulated lorries from the docks cant use the new bridge with out shunting or mounting the pavement.

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paul.p says...
9:26am Tue 11 Sep 12

If you delve into the Twin sails archives you'll see that the bridge was designed to be used by Vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. It's the road layout that is to blame. Not exactly the best idea in the world but then again we're dealing with people who look at computer projections.

May I suggest that these people take a trip to somewhere like Morrocco where crossing ANY road is a feat in itself.

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Rednax says...
12:52pm Tue 11 Sep 12

'gyratory'? sounds kinda sexy....

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portia6 says...
1:28pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Raglan housing offices are there as
well, what do they think? Build a few
more social houses there?

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BIGTONE says...
3:42pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Marooned in an office surrounded by racing traffic, Poole town centre staff are urging the council to throw them a lifeline......

A rope swing,

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hamworthygirl says...
7:31pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Is it not possible to walk to the nearest pelican crossing for these office people? i walked to poole and back yesterday and didnt have any trouble crossing roads, The only thing that i had to move out of the way for was a cyclist (cue rants from bikers) who came up behind me on the twin sails bridge, not sure why as there is a cycle lane.

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Dorset Logic says...
9:15am Wed 12 Sep 12

Why don't they time the road crossing with each bridge software crash.

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benjamin says...
9:42am Wed 12 Sep 12

There would have been no need for
all the expensive road works and alterations. The new bridge should have been built immediately alongside Poole Bridge. Each bridge operating in a single direction, each bridge lifting and closing in unison. Both bridges using proven, simple and reliable
lifting systems.
This would equal half the present number of lifts. No waiting between bridges for marine traffic.
Resulting in fewer and reliable lifting times, No alterations to the roads and millions of pounds saved.

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scrumpyjack says...
11:47am Wed 12 Sep 12

BIGTONE wrote:
Marooned in an office surrounded by racing traffic, Poole town centre staff are urging the council to throw them a lifeline......

A rope swing,
Genius.

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