A road-widening scheme in Bournemouth has been put on hold because it was based on what councillors described as officer ‘guestimates’.
Bournemouth Borough Council cabinet members have decided that 13 homes should not lose part of their front gardens through compulsory purchase orders in order to widen part of Castle Lane West. CPOs had been granted for the widening, planned because of the redevelopment of the former Mallard Road bus depot, which is being transformed into a retail park with bars, restaurants and shops.
Officers believed increased traffic to the site would require the upgrading of Castle Lane West. But the council’s cabinet has now dropped the CPO plan and instead agreed to monitor the road for 12 months after the park opens before making a final decision. There is currently not a start date for when the retail park will begin construction.
Leader of the council, Cllr ~Richard Smith~ said: ‘It seems a nonsense to compulsorily purchase parts of 13 homes' front gardens based on predictions and guestimates.’ A slip road directly from Castle Lane West into the northbound carriageway of Wessex Way remains in the plans.
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