The decision to close one of the access routes to millionaires' playground Sandbanks to cars has sparked a furious row between car drivers and cyclists.
But there have been reports of cars queuing to get into and out of the only entrance and exit left open. The campaign group Leave Poole Park Alone is now planning on hiring a barrister to challenge the decision to keep the south-east gate linking to Sandbanks Road shut. 'We believe this has been done to appease the cycling brigade who have wanted cars banned from the park.'There is now only one entrance and exit and there is not enough room for two cars to pass so you have queues of traffic either side and cars idling for long periods.
But local resident Ian Lawrence said: 'Sixty three per cent of the people want the gate reopened as it adds mileage, delays, congestion, pollution while hitting car dependent old, frail and young families as well as tourism and park livelihoods.' He believed that many people who stated on the questionnaire that they wanted the gates reopened had since changed their minds.