The petition of residents of the constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole,
Declares that Wimborne Road is a bustling thoroughfare used by a mix of vehicles and a significant number of pedestrians each day; further declares that despite its heavy use, there is an insufficient number of zebra crossings and refuges along Wimborne Road; further declares that an insufficient provision of safety measures poses a daily risk to all pedestrians, including the hundreds of school children who traverse this road en route to one of the multiple schools that Wimborne Road connects.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to support the installation of one pedestrian crossing and one pedestrian refuge near Knobcrook Bridge and the BP garage on Wimborne Road.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Vikki Slade, Official Report, 15 July 2026; Vol. 789, c. 1017.]
[P003224]
Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Justin Madders):
The Government recognise the concerns raised by residents of Mid Dorset and North Poole about pedestrian safety on Wimborne Road.
The safety of all road users, particularly pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, is a priority for the Department. The Government support local authorities in considering measures such as pedestrian crossings, refuges and other traffic management improvements where they are appropriate for local conditions and likely to improve safety. Such measures can be particularly important in areas with significant pedestrian movement, including routes used by children travelling to and from school.
In England, responsibility for assessing the need for local road safety measures, including pedestrian crossings and refuges, rests with the relevant local traffic authority. For Wimborne Road, this is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, except for any roads managed by National Highways. Local authorities have powers to establish pedestrian crossings on roads for which they are the traffic authority, following the relevant statutory processes and consultation requirements.
The Department for Transport provides guidance to support these decisions. Local authorities are best placed to assess the specific circumstances on their roads, including pedestrian demand, traffic volumes and speeds, road layout, visibility, collision history, accessibility needs and community concerns.
While the Government cannot direct a local authority to install a specific pedestrian crossing or refuge, I would encourage the petitioners to continue engaging with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, so that the concerns raised can be considered as part of its local road safety responsibilities.
I am grateful to the petitioners, and to the hon. Lady, for highlighting these important road safety concerns on Wimborne Road.