Sandbanks millionaires ‘trapped’ in gridlock as sewer repair blocks mainland route

It’s enraged residents of the exclusive strip, who say traffic chaos and gridlock mean they can’t go shopping or take their kids to exams.

There have been reports of cars queuing a mile back to the turnoff for the Sandbanks chain ferry, meaning it cannot be unloaded.

A bus is said to have taken two hours to get through the roadworks, while residents were unable to leave the peninsula at peak times of the day, particularly over the anniversary weekend and the recent heatwave, which has seen an influx of tourists.

And with the busy summer season around the corner, there are concerns the traffic chaos will turn to carnage.

“You get stuck at peak times”

“The problem is there’s only one way in and out of Sandbanks, and it’s like a bottleneck. If you live there you’re trapped at peak times,” David Morley, chairman of the Sandbanks Community Group, told The Telegraph.

“I’ve had residents tell me they have particular concerns about getting kids to exams on time, they’re worried about emergency access because of these congestion and then of course there’s a lot of trouble getting out of Sandbanks in good weather.

“If you’re a resident you have to get off to go to work or to shop – it was impossible to get off so some people just gave up [in the heatwave]. It took more than an hour to leave and it is very disruptive to people’s lives.”