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31 Jul 98

GOVERMENT DECISION ON POOLE HARBOUR BRIDGE

People of Poole have vowed to keep up the pressure in the campaign for Poole Harbour Bridge after the project was withdrawn from the national trunk road programme.

In a statement from the DETR, the Government advised that the Poole Harbour Bridge scheme will fall to Borough of Poole as the local highway authority to decide in the context of the local transport plan what action should be taken for this scheme.

'We're bitterly disappointed. Poole needs this Bridge and needs it now, but the Government have ruled that out. We are determined that we will get a new harbour crossing - the question now is when. The problems of poor road networks and congestion in the town that created the need for the Bridge in the first place are not going to disappear,' said Cllr Brian Clements, Chairman of the Poole Harbour Bridge Working Party and Council Leader.

'We put forward a strong case; the Government received more public letters of support for Poole Harbour Bridge than it did for any other scheme in the South West. In addition, over 25,000 people took the time to sign a petition and register their support for the Bridge. We will keep working for the Bridge,' said Cllr Ann Stribley, Vice Chairman of the Working Party and Leader of the Conservative Group.

'In the light of this announcement, funding for the Bridge now depends upon putting together a package which would see the private sector designing, building and managing the Bridge. Crucially, this process will still need Government support for a private financial package to be secured,' said Cllr Clements.

'Transport Minister, Baroness Hayman has invited us to meet with her to discuss what our options are now and the best way forward to achieve our funding for our new Bridge. Following the announcement, we will be pushing for a meeting at the earliest opportunity so that we don't waste any time in making progress. Experience elsewhere indicates that it could take up to two years to produce an outline proposal for a private finance scheme,' said Cllr Brian Clements,

'It is understandable why priorities have been given to education in the government's spending programme and that private investment may be our best option in the current climate, but Poole has needed this Bridge for the last thirty years and we have to do all we can to keep the Bridge in the national public eye,' said Cllr Jane Wilmot, Hamworthy Labour Councillor.

'We will be inviting representatives of the local business community and potential private finance partners to join with the Bridge Working Party, to continue bringing the Poole Harbour Bridge project to the attention of the government. Together we need to start working up a scheme that will attract private finances,' added Cllr Clements.

'Now we know the Government's position we'll also be re-evaluating short term options that could help relieve some of the traffic congestion at the lifting bridge and port area, such as road markings, lane usage and times of bridge lifting,' added Cllr Clements.


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Kay Kitcatt, PR manager: 01202 633029; Cllr Brian Clements: 0802 661558