News

Residents, partners, landowners and stakeholders will be able to have their say on the next major step to deliver Poole's new £14m Twin Sails bridge .

The results of a year of intensive work, known as the Draft Environmental Statement, will be revealed from today. Covering design, construction, bridge operation, use by pedestrians, cyclists and drivers along with a detailed examination of the effects on geology, quality of surface water and ecology in the area, the statement is a key piece of work essential to the application to build the new bridge.

Issues examined as part of the assessment range from the impact of dredging on the sea bed during the bridge's construction to how the existing and new bridge will work together.

Over the next 7 weeks, exhibitions and stakeholder groups will be designed to give feedback on the issues raised with the aim of resolving any remaining concerns as far as possible. The results of the consultation will be used to produce the final Environmental Statement later this summer.

Nigel Jacobs, said: "Over the last year many different groups have already been heavily involved in shaping the whole process, from guiding the kind of assessment needed and areas studied, to giving their views on just how the new bridge will impact on the town. The Environmental Assessment is about examining all the effects of the new bridge and deciding how we can ensure as far as possible that there are no unacceptable impacts on the environment. In some cases the impact is actually the improvement the new bridge would bring such as opening up the Power Station site for development or improving road links for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians."

A public exhibition on the results will be on display at Hamworthy Library 17-31 March and at the Dolphin Shopping Centre 1-2 April. In addition presentations will be made at Area Meetings around the Borough.

Bernie Topham, Policy Director, Borough of Poole, said; "No stone is being left unturned to ensure a robust Environmental Statement is in place to support the Council's application to build the bridge due to be submitted later this year. This is our chance to check with people that what we've heard is right and to check that there are no areas we've missed. This will not be the end of the story. When we submit the TWA, local people will again have the opportunity to examine the work."

The deadline for comments on the Draft Environmental Statement is 26 April 2004. For anyone wanting to comment on the Draft Statement or find out more, a free summary is available from the Civic Centre tel: 633360. Full copies of the statement can be viewed at the Civic Centre, Poole Central Library or Hamworthy Library or are available to buy for £300, contact Nigel Jacobs, Strategic Planning, tel:01202 633360, email: n.jacobs@poole.gov.uk . Alternatively both the summary and full versions of the Statement are now available on boroughofpoole.com/fullsailahead.

Editor's Notes

Residents can find out more about the draft Environmental Statement at their local Area Meeting:

10 March - Alderney, Branksome East, Branksome West and Canford Cliffs:- 7pm St. Aldhelms C of E Combined School, Winston Avenue, Branksome

24 March - Broadstone, Merley and Bearwood - venue TBA - tel: 633023

31 March - Hamworthy East, Hamworthy West and Poole Town, 7pm Civic Centre, Poole

14 April - Newtown, Parkstone & Penn Hill - 7.30 Trinidad First School, Herbert Avenue,