HALT CANFORD BOTTOM ROADWORKS: Bad For Businesses and Job Losses Feared

Cutting Edge Salon and our neighbouring businesses are going to be affected by extensive road closures as a result of recently confirmed roadwork at Canford Bottom roundabout, due to start in September 2011. Originally these developments, which are to cost 5.7 million pounds, were put on hold as Dorset County Council felt there had not been a proper consultion and the Highways Agency even admitted that the plans were far from ideal. It is believed that the plans have now been forced through by transport ministers to satisfy the short-term demands of the Olympics with no consideration of the long-term needs of local residents or effects on local businesses. Over 20 small businesses in the area will be affected by these extensive road closures, with the threat of redundancy for the over 2000 people employed by them. Requests for delays allowing time to develop a better plan for the roadworks, or stagger the road closures so less severe diversions are needed, are being ignored in favor of the safeguarding the Olympic Route Network – for two weeks in 2012! We agree that addressing the current traffic management on Canford Bottom roundabout would be a great benefit in the long term and that short-term solutions to increase traffic flow during the Olympics should be planned. WE ARE CALLING FOR A HALT TO THESE WORKS AND THE RESULTING EXTENSIVE ROAD CLOSURES IN OUR AREA. WE ARE ASKING FOR A PROPER CONSULTATION AND PLANNING THAT DELIVERIES A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL INFASTRUCTURE.