BOSSES at a Bournemouth-based bus company have urged visitors to Westbourne to leave their cars at home.

Motorists travelling around the area often face delays, particularly during rush-hour.

Now Morebus managing director Andrew Wickham said he is working with Bournemouth council to address problems in the area.

“We know that bus running times have increased between Poole and Bournemouth over recent years - and this is a direct consequence of the number of cars circulating in the area,” Mr Wickham said.

“A large number of visitors to Westbourne already use the bus, but journey times would decrease greatly if even more people chose to leave their cars at home.” Improving travel times for those living and working in the area is not the only advantage public transport can bring.

“The government recently published its UK Air Quality report, and we welcome any initiative designed to reduce the harmful effects exhaust emissions have on the environment.”

But Bournemouth councillor Rae Stollard, who represents the Westbourne ward, said traffic wasn’t the issue - it’s parking.

“I haven’t really noticed a traffic problem in the area. It’s just the same as it is everywhere else during rush hour,” she added.

“But parking is always the thing traders and businesses complain about.”

She told the Echo that there had been a reduction in the number of parking spaces since traffic calming measures were introduced through Westbourne.

“Not only does it impact visitors to the area but it also affects traders who struggle because of a lack of loading bays,” she added.

Cllr Stollard said she has been working for around four years trying to get more on-street parking and a loading bay in Poole Road near the Arcade. She said she knew business owners in the area who had been given parking tickets while unloading.

Westbourne in Bloom chairman Chris Colledge agreed that there were a lack of parking spaces in Westbourne.

He said part of the problem was that Milburn Road car park is filled with commuters who work at nearby LV= from early morning - an issue which was reported in the Echo earlier this month.

Justin Brandon of Scape Interiors West Ltd in the Arcade said: “It’s a huge problem for us. Every day at 8.30am the car parks are full. Our customers don’t have anywhere to park.”

The council said it recognised that the car parks are very busy but said Westbourne was served by reasonable parking provision for visitors.