Have your say on proposed speed limit reductions in Ferndown and West Parley

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A silver coloured van behind other cars travelling along a shady road

Views are being sought on proposals to reduce the speed limit on New Road and Christchurch Road, Ferndown and West Parley

We are carrying out a public consultation from Thursday 29 January until 20 Friday February 2026.

Residents, commuters, and local interested groups can support, object or provide comments on the proposals using our webpages - please comment under: The County of Dorset (A347 New Road, West Parley), (B3073 Christchurch Road, West Parley), (30mph Speed Limit) (No. ) Order 202* on the web page for your views to be included. 

Comments on the proposals, for or against, together with the reasons, can also be made in writing and sent to Traffic Regulation Team, Dorset Council, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 1XJ by no later than 20 February 2026.

Residents, the town councils and Dorset Council councillors have requested speed limit reductions on the routes. 

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: “The local community has voiced strong support for these speed limit reductions.

“The proposals represent a significant step forward in enhancing road safety in the area. I am pleased that we are now able to gather broader public feedback.”

To improve safety and consistency, the speed limit review is split into three areas.

A347 New Road - north of Parley Cross

Proposed 30mph speed limit on New Road from Parley Cross up to the A348, Ringwood Road. This road’s speed limit is currently 40mph.

To reinforce the 30mph on this section and improve pedestrian safety, we will also carry out some minor junction alterations at Dudsbury Avenue and Chander Close. Crossing points along the length of the road will also be improved.

We will also seek to tie these works with maintenance of the carriageway on New Road to minimise traffic disruption to residents and support the efficient delivery of our services.

See the plan

B3073 Christchurch Road

Proposed 30mph speed limit starting west of the junction with Barrack Road and Christchurch Road, extending westwards through Parley Cross junction to link with the existing 30mph limit close to Dudsbury Golf Course. Christchurch Road’s speed limit is currently 40mph.

A347 New Road – south of Parley Cross

Proposed 30mph speed limit on New Road from Ensbury Bridge up to Parley Cross. This road's speed limit is currently 40mph.

See the plan

 

Comments

20 Comments

Comment by posted
No, leave the speed limit as it is and think about fixing the other major roads in the area. Looking as the collision map provided on the council website.. New Road and Christchurch Road definitely aren't the issues. 
Comment by posted
Agree with the proposed speed reduction to New Road. I own 39 Winnards close and we have had 2 cars through our fence in past years.
Comment by posted
All these proposals are necessary for the safety of people using the roads in Ferndown (both pedestrians and motorists). There are many vehicles going much faster than 40 on these roads.   I'm also very pleased to see the proposed changes to the junction of New Road and Dudsbury Avenue. I live on Dudsbury Avenue and after Wimborne Road East and Ringwood Road it has the highest number of reported speeding motorists. This mainly occurs as traffic comes off New Road with the currently wide junction with the result that many don't have to reduce their speed from 40 to 30. Thank you!     
Comment by posted
Its been 40mph for over 60 years, with no changes to the number of properties bordering the road. The incidence of collisions per 100000 vehicles is virtually nil. The carriageway is wide, well surfaced, and well lit. The traffic flow is self-regulating, and it needs no change. Drivers forced into observing unrealistic limits are easily distracted, become inattentive, and actually increase the risk of causing a collision. I speak as a retired Dorset Police Traffic Sergeant who grew up in this area, and policed it for 30 years from 1991 to 2021.
Comment by posted
Where may I see a more detailed plan of the proposed changes to the New Road/Chander Close junction and crossing? Vehicles wishing to turn right out of Chander Close currently run the risk of being struck by vehicles heading northbound due to the poor definition of the give way markings because so many vehicles, especially buses needing to pull in to the bus stop, drive across them rather than staying in the defined traffic lane. One can only hope the plan is to add a physical island and bollard at the head of this junction. Under normal circumstances, I'd be happy to continue with a 40mph limit on New Road, but given the amount of vehicle noise the properties backing onto New Road must endure due to inconsiderate motorcyclists and motorists running with baffle-free exhausts, perhaps an enforced 30mph limit may help reduce that. Finally, I'm frankly shocked at the number of vehicles that shoot the red lights at the New Road/Ringwood Road/Victoria Road intersection ( as well as the Church Road/Ringwood Road/ Dudsbury Avenue intersection) and consequently, believe traffic light cameras at this junction would prove a safer option than merely reducing vehicle speed on New Road.
Comment by posted
The speed limit is not the issue here. Additional traffic from the new housing developments combined with stupidly sync'd traffic lights at Parley Cross, especially the new ones outside Lidl, are causing traffic congestion and delays at all times of day. Just changing the speed limit and tinkering with junctions does in no way fix the problem caused by the council in the first place.
Comment by posted
The road is too fast and the current speed limit is frequently ignored  . I live on it so have witnessed this and the many accidents over the years . It needs to be brought in line with the other roads in Ferndown . 
Comment by posted
All the proposed changes are an excellent idea and are well overdue. We have always had people speeding on this road; Christchurch Road from Parley Cross to the Chapel Gate roundabout. There have been serious accidents and fatalities. This will go some way to improve the safety of residents and those travelling on the road. The volume of pedestrians, traffic and heavy commercial traffic has dramatically increased because of the supermarket, recreation ground, cycle lane, unfinished road layout and proposed building, including a drive trough cafe not wanted by the residents will cause more speeding and congestion on the busiest crossroads in Dorset. Because of this I feel more changes are necessary; the change in speed limit on Christchurch Road should go all the way from Parley Cross to the Chapel Gate roundabout. Heavy traffic should not be allowed on this stretch of road as the bypass and the Ringwood road is available. Speed cameras in both directions would also help to reduce speeding and accidents. Road markings to allow residents to drive in and out of their properties are required. I have to drive over two lanes of oncomming traffic to access my own property and have come close to serious accidents. The extra lane was put in by Dorset Council. There should be a box junction at the lights which service Christchurch Road and Elizabeth Way. Also the lane between Elizabeth Way and Parley Lights enabling a left turn at Parley lights should be closed off, which was the original plan by Dorset Council. Currently it causes confusion and is another accident waiting to happen. In summary I support the reduction of the speed limits, but as I have highlighted there are more changes alongside this that need to be done sooner rather than later.
Comment by posted
Whilst we are in support of reducing the speed on the roads suggested, we are not in support of the isolated approach to this currently under consideration. We live on Dudsbury Avenue which leads off New Road and is a known cut through to Ferndown Industrial Estate avoiding Christchurch Road and to West Moors avoiding New Road. By slowing down the roads as proposed it will put even more pressure on Dudsbury Avenue that is already not coping. Changing the layout at the entrance to our road is simply not enough. Daily we suffer with drivers speeding up and down our road with no consideration for others – especially school children walking the narrow paths. We often get hooted turning into or out of our drive and this had also had an impact on our children who’ve seen a number of accidents and near misses on the road whilst walking to and from school. Encouraging more cars down Dudsbury Avenue and Church Road will only lead to more accidents and possibly fatalities seeing as there are three large schools on this road. Every day we witness people speeding at 40-60+ MPH and drivers jumping the lights of Ringwood Road / Dudsbury Avenue and not stopping for the two new Zebra crossings on Church Road. So whilst we agree in the need to slow motorists down as proposed, this must be done with consideration of the knock-on effects as explained. So please add to your plans either closing off Dudsbury Avenue completely at the junction of New Road or reducing Dudsbury Avenue (all the way past the schools on Church Road) to 20 MPH and adding traffic calming all the way along. Then it makes sense to slow down the roads in your plan.