Poole Park entrance traffic closure could be made permanent

Councillors will be asked to permanently ban vehicles from using the entrance at Whitecliff Road in Poole Park

An entrance to a town centre park should be permanently closed to traffic, council officers have said.

Vehicles could not use Poole Park's Whitecliff entrance as part of a four-week trial from 17 January.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said 63% of the 5,400 people who responded to a consultation were opposed to the closure.

But a report that will go to the council's cabinet says that it should be made permanent to improve the park.

The closure already happens between 07:30 and 10:00, Monday to Saturday.

Other vehicle access and exit points, as well as parking in the park, would not be impacted.

BCP Council ran the four-week consultation in January

The authority said the entrance's closure would be a "simple and easily understood solution" and the park would still be accessible for people who need to use a vehicle.

Its consultation showed the closure was unpopular with some elderly and disabled people but it said the impact would not be significant in terms of journey time or congestion.

Poole Park was built in 1890, covering 110 acres of open space, with tennis courts, a bowling green, play areas, miniature railway and cafes next to its lake.

Its position near Poole town centre means it is often busy during rush hour as motorists use it as a cut-through.

BCP Council's cabinet will be asked to support the proposal at a meeting on 22 May.

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