IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Egerton Gardens, BOURNEMOUTH, BH8 9AD

Looking along Wessex Way as it heads underneath the Springbourne Roundabout.

This happens whenever we have (a) a sunny day, (b) a weekend, or (c) a half-term holiday. Today saw the combination of all three. Beachgoers head for home – all of them at the same time, it seems. I had driven south along this 8-mile stretch of the A338 at 6pm and now, an hour-and-a-bit later, the end of the tailback is in exactly the same spot as it was then, so at least it’s not getting any worse. Although it is hell for those involved, it is difficult to stifle slight chuckles when travelling freely in the opposite direction. Just as I reached this point to take the picture, three lads cycled past me and one of them, looking to his left, called “Unlucky” with a glint of glee in his tone. The queue, which was never properly stationary but was rarely faster than walking pace, stretches back from Ashley Heath roundabout, the convergence of this, the main road out of Bournemouth, and the A31, one of the chief routes to southwestern resorts. Beyond that they will face more slow-goingness as they join the M27 and then the M3. But... they will all be back next year!

This was a bank for many, many years – originally the National Provincial, which wording can still be made out in the screw-hole marks, and later the National Westminster. It closed probably about 20 years ago.

Springbourne Fire Station, Richmond Park Close, Bournemouth, Dorset is situated on a busy roundabout, and is one of the 3 fire stations that cover Bournemouth.

A closer look at the Image, showing the screw-holes above the windows in which the words 'National Provincial' can still be discerned.

This shops were in the centre of a gyratory system until the late 1980s when the roundabout junction was installed. The one alongside Ladbroke's was Holdenhurst Road East Post Office until its closure on 9 February 2004. It briefly retained retail use as an athletics supplier, but has now been converted to residential use.

This postbox stands outside Image The structure on its top is the remains of a post office direction sign – the old post office is discussed in the above link.

This church has fairly recently been deconsecrated and is now being used as a community centre.