A ROAD running alongside Bournemouth's Lower Gardens could be stopped up to make way for a development.

The council has applied to Bournemouth Magistrates' Court for a court order allowing it to 'stop up' the part of Exeter Crescent that runs between the gardens and the new BH2 cinema and restaurants complex, on the grounds that it is "unnecessary".

'Stopping up' means that the section of road concerned ceases to be a highway, road or footpath.

The plans for the development show a restaurant outdoor seating area linking up with the gardens.

But BH2 says the order will only apply to a strip of the road running alongside the complex.

It means the road will no longer be accessible to cars, but the cycle way and footpath will still be in use.

Chris Dymond of developers Licet for the new £50m BH2 development said: "There are no plans to close the cycle route and footpath that runs between BH2 and the Lower Gardens and I'd like to set the record straight and clear up any confusion.

"At the moment, the boundary between the public highway and privately maintained areas is not clear so this process will clarify the dividing line.

"Although the entire area is being upgraded as part of our works, it will be the Council who will look after the cycle route and footpath in the future and we will maintain the external seating areas adjacent to the new restaurants.

"The area between BH2 and the Lower Gardens will be larger than the space which existed when the NCP car park was on the site.”

Anyone wishing to view the plans for the order can do so by visiting the authority's customer contact centre in St Stephen's Road between 9am and 4pm Monday to Thursday (4pm on Friday).

The Exeter Road development will include a 10-screen Odeon cinema. Restaurants including Las Iguanas, Joe’s Kitchen and Bella Italia have applied to lease units, along with Aspers' Casino.

The plans for the development show a restaurant outdoor seating area linking up with the gardens.

The court will consider the order at a hearing on December 15 at 10am.