QUESTIONS have been raised over Bournemouth council’s bus hub plans.

Car park operator NCP says it will not give up ownership of the Exeter Road car park without a fight, despite the council’s plans to push through a £10 million Compulsory Purchase Order.

It says it remains committed to the West Central development, which would see a cinema and restaurants built on the site, alongside partner Licet.

On Tuesday four questions relating to the CPO were posed at a meeting of the council.

One question asked why an external legal opinion was not sought – council leader Cllr John Beesley said legal advice was always initially internal but added that the legal advice requested would be reviewed, in accordance with normal practice.

A second question asked whether there was a conflict of interest in using taxpayers’ money to take private sector car parking away and turn it into council car parking.

Cllr Beesley said that the new car park would not necessarily be managed by the council.

A third question asked whether the site was the right place for a bus hub, which Cllr Beesley responded to by saying that the decision followed an evaluation of other sites, including the Winter Gardens.

A final question challenged the council over whether there was enough cash for a compulsory purchase order for the site.

Cllr Beesley said the council was in a position to fund it from a mix of capital funding, earmarked reserves and unearmarked reserves. Cabinet members had previously been asked whether they had had any discussions with leisure or cinema operators about where they would prefer to see a new leisure scheme built.

They will be submitting written responses to this question.

Last month, Licet and NCP said that the West Central scheme was ready to go, with 75 per cent of units let.