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At a special Poole council meeting the go-ahead has given to sign the contract for the multi-million-pound Twin Sails Bridge.

 

Although the name of the successful contractor has not been made public Councillors agreed to go ahead with the tender for the £18.5 million bridge. However this will not happen until transport minister Sadiq Khan approves his department’s recommendation for its £14.14 million grant towards the £40m scheme. The unanimous council vote brings the Council one step closer to beginning work on the Twin Sails Bridge, said Cllr Brian Leverett, Borough of Poole leader.

 

While voting in favour, Liberal Democrats voiced misgivings over future development on sites including the vast former power station in Hamworthy, where the bridge will land.

Cllr Brian Clements expressed a fear that having borrowed £10 million on the basis of it being repaid from developer contributions there might be a temptation to lower standards of acceptable development. He went on to state that it must not be allowed to happen. Timing was not in council's favour and that it would be under pressure from developers telling them that better schemes are not affordable in a recessionary climate.

 

Cllr Leverett indicated that as well as reducing traffic problems, the project will unlock the huge potential of the brownfield sites at the heart of Poole and will help the council address the important issues of employment and housing for the town. he went on to say that the council wanted the best possible development for the 26 hectares of land, including new homes, offices, shops, community and leisure facilities and that through the planning process the council will require future developments to be of a quality and standard consistent with our planning policies.