Local MP Michael Tomlinson has been able to see for himself the works that have taken place in Wimborne’s Leigh Road and Wimborne Road West.

The MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole was invited by Dorset Council portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, Cllr Ray Bryan.

The latest section of work, the new crossing and traffic controls around the junction of Brook Road and Leigh Road, are now in operation.

The junction layout includes new ‘Puffin’ pedestrian crossings and the special features include:

• Kerb side detectors that cancel the pedestrian crossing demand, if users cross early or move away from the crossing.
• On crossing detectors to extend the Green Man time for people of low mobility
• Red tactile paving to help the visually impaired locate the crossing as well as the rotating tactile cone placed on the underside of the push button unit signalling when it is safe to cross.
• New low voltage signal heads using LEDs, which save on energy usage, cost and carbon emissions.

As well as the new crossings, the kerb alignments for the junction have been altered to help large vehicles turn in and out of Brook Rd more easily.

Michael Tomlinson said: “It is really good to see these improvements being made.  The funding for these improvements has come from central government through the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund1 (TCF) so it is great for me to see the benefits of this grant coming to fruition on the ground.”

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Highways, Travel and Environment said: “With more family homes being built on Leigh Road and Wimborne Road West and the area becoming much more residential as a result, there is a greater need for safer crossing locations for pedestrians and cyclists on the road.  Combining these new crossings with the other improvements will make Leigh Road and Wimborne Road West a much safer, more sustainable place for families to live.”