Work over recent weeks has meant the re-opening of the Seldown entrance to Poole Park, providing access to the revised parking bays along the road and Westfield car park, next to The Kitchen restaurant. This phase of work is not yet complete, the following range of work still to follow:
- Lay the finished decorative surfaces on footpaths and crossing points
- Install bollards and signage and new light columns
- Improve the irrigation infrastructure for the gardens
- Improve the soil and then seed areas around the works, including the garden space near to Seldown Lodge (town centre entrance)
- Refurbish and replace benches
- Install cycle stands in the car park
The road has been designed to be narrow so that vehicles reduce their speed and pedestrians and cyclists are given greater priority in the park. The reduced number of parking bays will be for disabled users only in the future and the reduction in parking is in response to the majority of those old spaces being used for people using them for access to the town centre. The new arrangements emphasise the benefits for park users.
The bays that will receive the new trees are currently filled with loose gravel that is becoming disturbed and spread across some areas. In time this gravel will be contained in grids, as in in other areas, but this is not possible in the short term.
The updated programme for the various phases of works is as follows:
Phase 2(a) Water fountain to War Memorial – Complete 21st August. Current access restrictions apply with all 3 entrances open but no through route past the War Memorial.
Phase 2(b) – War memorial to Middle Gate roundabout. Complete 4th September. As above.
Phase 3 – Area to the north of the water fountain. Complete 21st August. As Above.
Phase 4 – Middle gate roundabout works and moving towards East Gate Lodge (Civic Centre end). Commence 17th August : Complete 25th September. Existing arrangements in place and then some restrictions from East Gate Lodge entrance. Specific detail to be agreed on extent of works and restrictions.
Phase 7 – Minor works to Copse Close car park. Commence 7th September : Complete 11th September. No significant issues created.
Phase 8 – Improvements to the cycle track around the cricket pitch. Commence 24th August : Complete 4th September. No impact on vehicle access.
Thank you for your patience and understanding through these improvement works.
The photos below show the area around the fountain being improved, with a cellular system being used to prevent any compaction to the tree roots through the avenue.