The True Cost Of Canford Bottom Roundabout Works
By DomCar | Wednesday, September 07, 2011, 10:06
Local businesses fear the true cost of the Canford Bottom Roundabout improvement works will be the loss of customers and closure of businesses.
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Canford Botttom Roundabout works to kill off local business?
Around twenty local businesses have protested against the works being rushed ahead ready for the increase in traffic due to the 2012 Olympics, with the works being described as "horrendous" and business and jobs "in peril". The biggest fear is that customers who go elsewhere due to the "frightening" road closures won't come back after the works have been competed, and the loss of trade will be too much for smaller businesses to handle.
It's estimated that 16,000 jobs in the Ferndown area and more in Wimborne could be affected while both towns are virtually cut off from each other during the nine months of road works. Is it worth all this disruption and loss of business just to take a few seconds off journeys and for just two weeks benefit to Weymouth?
Even local Cllr Janet Dover has joined the rising number of people speaking out against the Highways Agency's flawed plans, claiming the Olympics aren't a good enough reason for such disruption.
But the Highways Agency are still promoting the scheme, claiming it will help ease traffic over the next ten years and be a "huge benefit" to the Olympic Route Network.
If local businesses were to lose custom because of the Canford Bottom Roundabout works, which seems very likely, then there are sure to be plenty of job losses and business closures to come.
Comments
Should compensation for businesses be taken into account when the government gives money to the Highways Agency for a large project like this? Even if businesses received a token amount it would be better than nothing at all, wouldn't it?
By DomCar at 09:27 on 12/03/12
ReportThe Highways agency are not interested in businesses they have a remit to keep the traffic moving. Perhaps they should consider this when the close part of the moptorway to retrieve a wing mirror in the middle lane, or have a three vehicle accident on the outside lane when all the vehicles could easily be driven and moved to the hard shoulder.
By frankiep at 08:53 on 08/03/12
ReportIt would be interesting to know if the Highways Agency actually considered the effect on businesses before it finalised its plans. It would also be worth asking if the road closures are necessary and could an alternative be found? I doubt we'll get an answer to either though, I'm afraid.
By DomCar at 09:37 on 13/09/11
ReportLocal businesses said they lost a great deal of custom a couple of years ago when Canford Bridge was closed for an extended period for repairs. I hope that yet another period of reduced access to Wimborne does not do too much damage. I wonder how the new BID will affect the town during this period, and the proposals for re-configuring the Square. We do live in interesting times. I can see no point at all in the flawed plans for the Canford Bottom Roundabout and think it may be very damaging to our local economy.
By Soobie7 at 14:36 on 08/09/11
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