A SERIES of walking and cycle improvements, including a new bridge over the River Stour, are planned for a nature reserve.

Members of the public were invited to a drop in event to look at plans for to transform land off the Stour Valley Nature reserve with active travel features.

The work, which is planned between the existing shared path at Redhill Roundabout and the Chapel Gate Roundabout, forms part of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme’s sustainable travel route between Bournemouth town centre and Ferndown.

This off-road section was originally consulted on in February to March 2021. At that stage, route options were still being assessed. Following further design work, a route is now being proposed and would include:

  • Improvements to the existing path on the north side of Christchurch Road to provide a shared path near Portfield School
  • A new toucan crossing on Christchurch Road, with an adjacent section of existing cycleway on the south of the road being widened to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists
  • A new shared path for pedestrians and cyclists south from Christchurch Road, running parallel to Parley Green Lane at the top end, carrying on down to cross the existing Stour Valley Way path near Parley Manor and continuing south to the River Stour
  • An accessible bridge over the River Stour that would link the new route to the existing shared path near Redhill Roundabout
  • Proposed tree and hedgerow planting along the proposed shared path

Dorset Echo: Proposed route map design for walking and cycle works between the existing shared path at Redhill Roundabout and Chapel Gate Roundabout.Proposed route map design for walking and cycle works between the existing shared path at Redhill Roundabout and Chapel Gate Roundabout. (Image: BCP Council)

A survey on the plans completed in 2021 saw more than half of respondents (59 per cent) strongly agree with the proposed changes and just under one fifth (17 per cent) disagree.

Commenting, one resident said: “An accessible bridge over the River Stour is absolutely crucial and long overdue. I cannot state this strongly enough. I previously lived north of the Stour and when I first began to cycle to work in Bournemouth I realised how much of a barrier it is to cycling.”

Others, however, found fault with its location. One person said: “It should come straight down from Ferndown through Parley Cross to join the routes in BCP instead of this dark, unlit, remote out of town route that is proposed.”

Members of the public were able to view the plans at a public drop-in event on Thursday, February 16, at Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre.

For those who were unable to attend, banners will be onsite at the centre until Friday, March 3, providing an unstaffed exhibition detailing the proposals. All materials will eventually be added online.