A council has admitted the response was "much bigger than expected" after it closed a rat-run through a heritage listed park to prevent drivers using the route as a cut-through, in a bid to promote cycling and walking and tackle air and noise pollution, but has committed to keeping the road closure in place now the trial period has ended and more than 5,000 consultation responses are being considered.

The local newspaper the Daily Echo (link is external) reports the sheer scale of public opinion on the matter, the responses to BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) more than double what was received for a survey on the 2024-25 budget that asked for views on service cutbacks.

And while the council has not shut the route through Poole Park, a 110-acre green space in the Dorset town, permanently — a period of analysis to "understand every piece of feedback and insight on either side of the debate" will follow, potentially with an "open public meeting" — the road, used as a rat-run near Sandbanks, one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in the country, to remain closed to drivers in the meantime now the four-week trial period has ended.

The trial prompted vocal opposition from a group of residents that a local active travel group has branded a "vocal minority" consisting of "car drivers who drive straight through the park". Protests were held at the road closure, people opposing the pro-cycling and walking measure seen holding signs repeating much of the rhetoric that has been heard elsewhere in the country in recent times during backlash to low-traffic neighbourhood schemes, 20mph speed limits and ULEZ.

However, councillor Andy Hadley, the council's portfolio holder for climate response, environment and energy, told the community during the trial that "we don't have an anti-car agenda" just that there is "a challenge on our roads about the dominance of the car... [they're] getting bigger and there's more of them".

"We are now looking at analysing all these responses and understanding every piece of feedback and insight on either side of the debate that park users took the time to share with us," he said, commenting on the next steps in the process.

"It's clear that with such a high response rate, the decision-making process will take longer than we originally planned, and it now seems more appropriate for this decision to be debated and considered in an open public meeting.

"That is why the item is on the forward plan to be discussed at the cabinet meeting in May, but we are looking at how we can shorten the timeline and discuss it earlier than that. Whilst we are reviewing the timeline, the entrance and exit to the park will remain closed as originally advised."

The closure was welcomed by active travel groups, a spokesperson for BH Active Travel saying the park being a space closed to through-traffic will "benefit all park users".

The group also said the opposition to the proposals is a "vocal minority" and the closure is "only prejudiced to one specific group of people — car drivers who drive straight through the park".

During the trial BH Active Travel's Chair, Lucie Allen, argued the "parks should be safe, open green spaces for people to use, whether that be for recreation, leisure, or quiet contemplation".

"It's always amazed me that commuters are allowed to cut through the park, particularly during the end of the school day and rush hour, effectively using the park as a rat-run to avoid congestion on the road network," she added.

Opponents to the closure, who want to see the park remain as a through-route for drivers, have accused the council of being "anti-car".

Lead campaigner Bob Lister pointed to the 1,400 followers his campaign has on Facebook as evidence of the support for keeping the through-route open.

"And if you imagine they are households of two to three people, we could possibly have won the vote," he suggested.

"But it's sad they are not going to make a decision soon. We don't know how long it will take to read through the results. It was also a very biased consultation, with a lot of closed questions. I don't understand why they don't keep it open now and then decide in May at their cabinet meeting."

One resident angered by the decision said: "Previously we have easily and safely used the park road to get to Sandbanks Road and Shore Road. Now we have to squeeze into the queue of traffic waiting to get to the Civic Centre and then have to join a long queue taking it in turns to go through the railway bridge along Sandbanks Road.

"So, more irritation, more delay, potentially more accidents, and more petrol being used up as we wait in stationary cars to navigate these blockages. So much for cutting the carbon footprint. In the meantime the park is nearly empty and a perfectly good road to avoid these pressure points has been blocked off.

"I can't imagine the chaos which will occur in the summer when festivals and other events which go on in the park try to contend with a system that only allows one exit point for all vehicles."

Cabinet members will consider "a report on the improvement of the environment in Poole Park through a trial closure" at a meeting on May 22.

https://road.cc/content/news/park-rat-run-remain-closed-drivers-promote-cycling-306749