“I have left my mark” – man behind some of Poole’s most controversial traffic projects retires

Steve Tite, centre, is retiring from Poole council

Steve Tite, centre, is retiring from Poole council

First published in News by

THERE is no denying that Poole traffic manager Steve Tite has had an impact on the town he moved to 30 years ago.

The Londoner, who came to the town to take up a job as assistant engineer at Poole Council in 1984, arrived straight into a controversial major project that changed the face of the town.

“One of the first jobs I came down to was the pedestrianisation and repaving of the High Street – which resulted in a public enquiry,” he said.

Many shopkeepers were not happy with the idea and feared a loss of trade and difficulties with deliveries, he recalled.

Turning the quay from a “big wide road” into a one-way paved route was another project that was controversial at the time, but, along with the busy high street, has proved its worth.

“I have left my mark,” said Steve, who has retired from Borough of Poole at the age of 60, having acted as transportation chief before current boss Julian McLaughlin was appointed. He recalled what the town was like when he arrived. It was a time when he addressed his boss as “sir”.

“Poole was a very different place. It was a really sleepy town. I never thought when I came, I would be retiring from here,” he said. Married to Vicki, with one daughter and two sons, he wants to travel and enjoy leisure before doing voluntary work.

Among many schemes he was involved with was one that received national publicity on Trevor McDonald’s Waste Watchers TV programme.

Featured was a short stretch of the Sandbanks cycleway that ran from Turks Lane to the top of Evening Hill. “They called it ‘the cycle way to nowhere’,” he said. “We completed it a few years ago from Evening Hill to the Sandbanks ferry and it is one of the busiest routes we’ve got.”

From the Fleetsbridge roundabout traffic lights to the 50mph speed limit on Dorset Way, the town centre gyratory to the Olympic torch route and spending Local Sustainable Transport Fund money, he has helped change the town.

“It’s been very challenging but looking back, it has been quite rewarding. I like to think it’s a better place,” he said.

 

Comments (18)

4:25pm Thu 1 Jan 15

pete woodley says...

What s he want,a knighthood ?.
What s he want,a knighthood ?. pete woodley
  • Score: -48

4:33pm Thu 1 Jan 15

caapprentice says...

I like to think it’s a better place,” he said.
That is only his opinion, others may differ!
I like to think it’s a better place,” he said. That is only his opinion, others may differ! caapprentice
  • Score: -24

5:05pm Thu 1 Jan 15

apm1954 says...

they come to my town cause chaos then leave.
they come to my town cause chaos then leave. apm1954
  • Score: -28

5:07pm Thu 1 Jan 15

afcb1004 says...

Fleetsbridge? runs better when the lights are off/not working and the lane markings awful if thats a success il eat my hat
Fleetsbridge? runs better when the lights are off/not working and the lane markings awful if thats a success il eat my hat afcb1004
  • Score: -2

6:26pm Thu 1 Jan 15

boyerboy says...

He is proud of his efforts ?....how sad.
He is proud of his efforts ?....how sad. boyerboy
  • Score: -31

7:55pm Thu 1 Jan 15

Dulcia says...

Cycle Lanes in the middle of the road, one way system on Poole Quay that has never been reviewed, catastrophe of the new bridge and approach especially Blandford Road. He should be slinking away in shame not advertise the fact that he has been responsible for the chaos!
Cycle Lanes in the middle of the road, one way system on Poole Quay that has never been reviewed, catastrophe of the new bridge and approach especially Blandford Road. He should be slinking away in shame not advertise the fact that he has been responsible for the chaos! Dulcia
  • Score: -31

8:45pm Thu 1 Jan 15

ashleycross says...

No mention of every penny that should have been put into modernising the town's transport routes so that all school children and employees could cycle and walk safely to work/school going into that bridge, Purpose of bridge-to allow loads of tiny boxes to be built in the cente of town to fulfil our central government quota-lucky old poole as a safe seat gets lumbered with having to squeeze in loads more tiny cashcows all over the borough for housing benefit landlords.
No mention of every penny that should have been put into modernising the town's transport routes so that all school children and employees could cycle and walk safely to work/school going into that bridge, Purpose of bridge-to allow loads of tiny boxes to be built in the cente of town to fulfil our central government quota-lucky old poole as a safe seat gets lumbered with having to squeeze in loads more tiny cashcows all over the borough for housing benefit landlords. ashleycross
  • Score: -43

11:06pm Thu 1 Jan 15

sea poole says...

Have an enjoyable retirement Steve -the few occasions I met you, you were always a true gentleman and tried your best in all of your work -unlike the snide and snarling comments on here -and no I don't work for the council
Have an enjoyable retirement Steve -the few occasions I met you, you were always a true gentleman and tried your best in all of your work -unlike the snide and snarling comments on here -and no I don't work for the council sea poole
  • Score: 33

11:20pm Thu 1 Jan 15

ashleycross says...

I pointed out the drivers at Ashley Cross lights nearly running me down every time I crossed to him about twenty years ago. This was at a public consultation at the library. I well remember being told adamantly there was nothing wrong with them. So x years later when the new puffin lights were installed there and cut out part way across so we had counsellors out there nearly being killed monitoring the situation I went straight to the department of transport. They got the angles of the sensors put right so that they could see pedestrians crossing instead of thinking there was no one there and cutting out to let cars through. Happy days. Lets hope whoever he does voluntary work with has a good listening skills training program.
I pointed out the drivers at Ashley Cross lights nearly running me down every time I crossed to him about twenty years ago. This was at a public consultation at the library. I well remember being told adamantly there was nothing wrong with them. So x years later when the new puffin lights were installed there and cut out part way across so we had counsellors out there nearly being killed monitoring the situation I went straight to the department of transport. They got the angles of the sensors put right so that they could see pedestrians crossing instead of thinking there was no one there and cutting out to let cars through. Happy days. Lets hope whoever he does voluntary work with has a good listening skills training program. ashleycross
  • Score: -51

7:34am Fri 2 Jan 15

kathywil says...

pete woodley wrote:
What s he want,a knighthood ?.
he will probably get one. plus a massive bonus and pension.
[quote][p][bold]pete woodley[/bold] wrote: What s he want,a knighthood ?.[/p][/quote]he will probably get one. plus a massive bonus and pension. kathywil
  • Score: -50

8:21am Fri 2 Jan 15

dorsetspeed says...

sea poole wrote:
Have an enjoyable retirement Steve -the few occasions I met you, you were always a true gentleman and tried your best in all of your work -unlike the snide and snarling comments on here -and no I don't work for the council
In the real world, you get nothing for trying, only succeeding
[quote][p][bold]sea poole[/bold] wrote: Have an enjoyable retirement Steve -the few occasions I met you, you were always a true gentleman and tried your best in all of your work -unlike the snide and snarling comments on here -and no I don't work for the council[/p][/quote]In the real world, you get nothing for trying, only succeeding dorsetspeed
  • Score: -48

8:45am Fri 2 Jan 15

Major Futtock says...

I agree, good bloody riddance. This man did more to cause chaos with vehicular traffic than anyone else in my experience. Split one way systems, cycle lanes that end in the middle of nowhere on roads far too narrow for them. His crowning glory (he thinks) is the wrecking of the Quay, with no parking allowed. No wonder the bottom of the high street is dying by the minute! the list goes on and on. The complete and utter waste of time , money and disruption to Ashley road with pointless and expensive humps and stainless steel bollards. Can ANYONE explain the reasoning behind this moronic operation??
I do wish these London 'incomers' would stay in the smoke and do their damage there!
I agree, good bloody riddance. This man did more to cause chaos with vehicular traffic than anyone else in my experience. Split one way systems, cycle lanes that end in the middle of nowhere on roads far too narrow for them. His crowning glory (he thinks) is the wrecking of the Quay, with no parking allowed. No wonder the bottom of the high street is dying by the minute! the list goes on and on. The complete and utter waste of time , money and disruption to Ashley road with pointless and expensive humps and stainless steel bollards. Can ANYONE explain the reasoning behind this moronic operation?? I do wish these London 'incomers' would stay in the smoke and do their damage there! Major Futtock
  • Score: -41

8:51am Fri 2 Jan 15

tbpoole says...

I don't know the chap but given the negative comments are from the usual suspects I guess he must have done an outstanding excellent job!
I don't know the chap but given the negative comments are from the usual suspects I guess he must have done an outstanding excellent job! tbpoole
  • Score: -28

9:54am Fri 2 Jan 15

tbpoole says...

dorsetspeed wrote:
sea poole wrote:
Have an enjoyable retirement Steve -the few occasions I met you, you were always a true gentleman and tried your best in all of your work -unlike the snide and snarling comments on here -and no I don't work for the council
In the real world, you get nothing for trying, only succeeding
You must warrant a big fat zero for your efforts then dorsetspleen.
[quote][p][bold]dorsetspeed[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]sea poole[/bold] wrote: Have an enjoyable retirement Steve -the few occasions I met you, you were always a true gentleman and tried your best in all of your work -unlike the snide and snarling comments on here -and no I don't work for the council[/p][/quote]In the real world, you get nothing for trying, only succeeding[/p][/quote]You must warrant a big fat zero for your efforts then dorsetspleen. tbpoole
  • Score: -26

12:19pm Fri 2 Jan 15

Crinkly says...

I'm astounded that some of the schemes passed a safety audit with unlinked traffic signals too close to each other.
e.g.New Inn and Ped crossing, Ashley Cross.
Ped crossing just before the roundabout at John Lewis
Plus
Removing the right turn lane at Oakdale so drivers wanting to go to Poole have to wait one complete cycle of the signals.
I could go on.
I'm astounded that some of the schemes passed a safety audit with unlinked traffic signals too close to each other. e.g.New Inn and Ped crossing, Ashley Cross. Ped crossing just before the roundabout at John Lewis Plus Removing the right turn lane at Oakdale so drivers wanting to go to Poole have to wait one complete cycle of the signals. I could go on. Crinkly
  • Score: -49

1:40pm Fri 2 Jan 15

sea poole says...

Crinkly -you will probably go on...and on...and on...and on...
Crinkly -you will probably go on...and on...and on...and on... sea poole
  • Score: -26

1:54pm Fri 2 Jan 15

pure_afcb says...

and as for that mess he created at the sea view roundabout lol!! what is that all about? should have been sacked!
and as for that mess he created at the sea view roundabout lol!! what is that all about? should have been sacked! pure_afcb
  • Score: -45

11:04pm Fri 2 Jan 15

toyota rav4 says...

HE MUST BE RELATED TO THE WEYMOUTH ROAD PLANERS .
HE MUST BE RELATED TO THE WEYMOUTH ROAD PLANERS . toyota rav4
  • Score: -10

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