TWO long-serving councillors have come out in support of the monorail plan put forward by a former Bournemouth leader.

Alderman David Trenchard has urged the town to revive the idea of a monorail link between Bournemouth Airport, King’s Park, the law courts and JP Morgan.

The idea attracted interest from Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood when first raised seven years ago, but has failed to get off the ground with Bournemouth council.

However, two senior councillors – both former mayors – contacted the Daily Echo to say the idea should be given a hearing.

Cllr Michael Filer, a former cabinet member for transport and ex-mayor, said: “David Trenchard was leader in the 1980s, when Bournemouth was racing ahead.

“This was the time when we had the huge commercial BIC opening, costing £5million which the opponents said was going to break Bournemouth and would never last.

“Within a year, Chase Manhattan was persuaded to come to Bournemouth, bringing huge employment The same year, after 25 years of promises and pressure, the old Boscombe Hospital was closed and a new one was opened on Castle Lane.

“Having worked with David Trenchard, I fully support what he’s thinking about and planning, because by linking JP Morgan and the hospital and the law court sites it would be taking traffic off the road.”

Boscombe West councillor Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts also backed the idea.

“I would urge David Trenchard to bring a deputation to the full council,” he said.

He said the idea could ease traffic congestion and be a tourist attraction.

But he said the idea should be considered alongside the return of trams to the town.

Alderman Trenchard, chairman of Leatherbarrows Removals and Storage, wrote a report on the monorail issue in 2011.

He wrote then: “Before it is too late we need to tackle the severe traffic and travel problems that surround the JP Morgansite, Royal Bournemouth Hospital and the Bournemouth Law Courts. The route is available now.“If we really want Bournemouth Airport to serve the conurbation, we need to embrace it into our travel network and take advantage of the car parking potential at this site which will, in due course, improve its links to the A338.”

But Cllr Mike Greene, Bournemouth council’s cabinet member for transport, has said the monorail would “cost probably an enormous amount of money”, adding: “Although it takes up less road space, I don’t really see a monorail as being the most cost-effective option.”