OUTSPOKEN Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has stepped into the row over the Bournemouth Spur road as highway chefs meet to discuss whether to stop work at weekends in the run-up to Christmas.

In the last two weeks, sections of the southbound carriageway of the A338 have been reduced to one lane, causing long delays for commuters and shoppers, as preparations are made for a £26 million refurbishment next year. The work includes removing wildlife from the verges, which are home to all six species of native reptiles in the UK, including slow worms.

Clarkson lambasted road chiefs in his Sun column at the weekend, accusing them of “closing a lane of the A338 for seven miles so some worms could be rehoused.”

He added: “Closing a road should be a last resort. Getting it open as soon as possible should be the number one priority. And worms do not matter.” (Oddly, the piece was accompanied by a picture of an earthworm.) All the reptiles in question are protected under UK law, and two – the smooth snake and sand lizard – have additional European protection.

In an attempt to alleviate concerns from businesses in Christchurch, Poole and Bournemouth, Dorset County Council today switched the work to the northbound carriageway. This will continue until the New Year, when the work will switch back to the southbound carriageway.

Additional calls have been made to stop work at weekends to put an end to traffic queues for Christmas shoppers.

Project manager David Diaz said they will be meeting today to discuss the issue and should be able to confirm the revised works by the end of the week.

Traffic was gridlocked this morning as drivers were caught out by the shift in works to the northbound carriageway of the A338.

The move was intended to alleviate pressure on traffic coming in to the town, but the Wessex Way was at a standstill between St Paul's and Cooper Dean roundabouts in both directions.

Queues to get on to the now-single lane A338 northbound stretched back as far as Richmond Hill, and northbound traffic diverting via St Paul's was causing long hold-ups for people coming in to Bournemouth.

Source - Daily Echo - See original article here