News

POLICY Director, John McBride, will update Councillors on the position with regard to Poole Bridge at tonight's (25 Feb) Economic Development and Tourism Sub-Committee.

In the summer of 1997, the new Labour Government announced a review of all Trunk Road Schemes including Poole Bridge. In November 1997, the Council submitted its case for retaining the bridge in the scheme. Mr McBride will outline the eight main points which the Council made in their case. (See attached)

Members will be told that the Government is still considering the proposals and they are looking at them in the context of the review of public expenditure and in the light of the Government's wish to see integrated transport policies. It is not expected that any announcement will be made until the Summer of this year.

Chairman of the Committee, Cllr Brian Clements, is pushing hard for a meeting with Baroness Hayman, the Government Minister responsible for the Review of Trunk Roads.

Cllr Clements said: "We want to make doubly sure that the Government is aware of some important new developments. Firstly, there is the magnificent public support for the scheme as witnessed by the 25,000 signatures on the petition.

"Then we want to point out to the Government that a key reason for the Poole Bridge scheme is to make sure that we can bring forward brown field sites for development and so protect Poole's green belt.

"We won't be able to do this without the Bridge and the Government needs to realise that it has a role in helping local authorities bring forward brown field sites. Finally, we want to make sure the Government realises that, according to their latest consultation paper on ports, there could be European funding available to them for Poole Bridge.

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