THE speed limit on a stretch of Wallisdown Road in Bournemouth is set to be reduced to 30mph as part of ongoing improvement works.

BCP Council’s cabinet member for transport, councillor Mike Greene, has backed the reduction from 40mph from Mountbatten Roundabout to the existing 30mph area near Canford Avenue.

A report outlining his decision, which is not due to be finalised until Friday, says the move would make the route safer and minimise congestion.

The ongoing Wallisdown Road West project will see new crossings installed and pedestrian and cycle access improved.

Work started at the end of last year and has required a series of road closures.

The latest of these will see the road closed between Benbow Crescent and Lyon Road from 7am on Saturday until 6pm on Sunday.

Lyon Road to Leyland Road will be closed overnight on June 29 and 30 and July 1 and Leyland Road to Mountbatten Roundabout on July 3 and 4.

An overnight closure from the Benbow Crescent west junction to Lyon Road and the Leyland Road junction will be in place from 7pm until 6am on July 1.

And the council is now also progressing the reduction in the speed limit between the roundabout and Canford Avenue to 30mph.

Cllr Greene’s decision has been published ahead of being confirmed later this week.

It says lower vehicle speeds will “complement” the ongoing Wallisdown Road project and that the changes to the road warrant the decrease.

“The proposed speed limit reduction…has positive outcomes for all sections of the community as it will help provide a safer environment for all road users and an improved environment to encourage a greater number of people of all ages and abilities to walk and cycle,” the report says.

It says the only negative is that journey times may “marginally increase” in quieter periods.

“The Wallisdown area remains the focus of plans to improve sustainable transport links between our towns,” Cllr Greene said.

“This will support local economic recovery and reduce journey times in the long term, while also contributing positively towards our wider transforming travel initiative and declared climate emergency.’’

The reduction to the speed limit will cost the council about £4,000.