News

Major investment in Poole Quay will be taking place this winter with the start of planned improvement works in November.

As part of the work, the Quay will be closed to traffic between Old Orchard and Fishermans Road from 28 October to 1 November and from 18 November 2002 to 31 March 2003. £175,000 is being invested by Orb Estates as part of the planned highway improvements associated with the Dolphin Quays development.

Work includes the installation of high quality paving for footpaths and pedestrian crossing points, new road surfaces, street furniture and enhanced lighting along the Quay from Fishermans Road to the mini roundabout. Fishermans Road and roads through the development will also be paved using the same high quality materials.

Pedestrian access along the Quay will be maintained throughout the work and once completed at the end of March 2003, the Quay and Fishermans Road will permanently re-open to two way traffic.

As part of the plans it is also hoped that the new footway paving will be extended to Old Orchard, providing an enhanced pedestrian walkway from the High Street to the Quay.

In addition, work by the Environment Agency to construct the next stage of Poole’s flood defence scheme will be taking place from mid November until Spring 2003. The £550,000 scheme funded by the Environment Agency, Borough of Poole and the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Association (DEFRA).

The scheme includes a combination of sea wall from the lifting bridge to opposite Piplers Yacht Chandlers and a section of raised pedestrian walkway on the Quay from opposite Piplers to the Caro sculpture. The wall and raised walkway are designed to work together to provide flood defences for the area which allow for the rise in sea levels over the next 50 years.

Improvements to the area include Purbeck stone paving around the Custom House and Coastguards’ Office, a widened footpath along the Quayside and new raised pedestrian crossing points. As part of the work, the existing coach lay-by opposite Thames Street will be removed and an improved pedestrian area created to enhance this historic part of the Quay. There will also be a piece of public artwork in bronze, by artist Simon Watkinson, set into the stone.

Three of the existing pay and display parking bays next to the Caro Sculpture will become loading bays servicing the nearby Custom House steps. The remainder of the spaces will be converted to disabled parking bays, increasing the number available on the Quay from 13 to 17.

The road will remain open to traffic in both directions during the majority of the work with short closures only to allow the pedestrian crossing points to be constructed. Pedestrian access will be available at all times and once completed the road will continue to be open to traffic in both directions.

Cllr Bob Williams, Executive Portfolio Holder for Environment & Regeneration, said: "These developments will provide a welcome and long awaited improvement to the Quay. Whilst there will be disruption, it has been planned for the quietest time of the year and should be completed in time for Spring next year. Any inconvenience to the public will be kept to a minimum and the Quay will remain open for people to walk along and enjoy.'