A TRANSPORT chief has warned that congestion charges in Bournemouth and Poole are “almost inevitable” as main routes between the two towns become more snarled up with traffic.

Alex Carter, managing director of Poole-based Go South Coast, told the Daily Echo: “There will come a saturation point on our roads; the time is not right for congestion charging but it could arrive as early as in five years’ time.

“Taking that bigger step is something local authorities should be mindful of. If traffic growths go unchecked it is almost inevitable. The only other option is to build more roads. Because space is very limited, I don’t think that is the right solution.”

He added: “Our road network is reasonable but prone to delays, particularly during the summer months when it is very vulnerable to incidents causing log-jams.

“Even now, there are pinch points and it is very difficult to run a bus service quickly through Bournemouth and Poole. Workplace parking levies could be invested into public transport.”

Councillor Robert Lawton, cabinet member for the environment and transport, said: “It is not on our agenda. We have no plans to introduce a congestion charge within Bournemouth unless the government force us to do so.

“I don’t accept it is inevitable that we would introduce a congestion charge.”

He said that roads in the area had become “more and more congested”. The council was carrying out a traffic survey and would review the results in spring or early summer.

Nigel Hedges, president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: “It has been predicted that Bournemouth will be choked by traffic by 2016.

“Manchester tried to introduce a congestion charge recently but it was rejected on a democratic vote. The first thing will be to persuade people to give up their cars and go by bus.”

He asked: “Would a town the size of Bournemouth want to stop people coming by car if they could go to other shopping centres in their own vehicles? We would probably say we want to encourage people to catch the bus and stay for longer but not stop people coming into town which ever way they choose.”

But he added: “By 2016 we may well have to think about a congestion charge.”

Mr Carter, who is the new chairman of Bournemouth Tourism Management Board, described transport as “the vital lifeblood of tourism” and said he hoped that more major themed events, such as the air festival, could be staged in Bournemouth and Poole.

“The important thing this year is for everyone to hold their nerve and try even harder to provide good customer service and attract people to this area.

“Exchange rates will mean that more people will choose to holiday at home and we want to showcase what we have to offer.

“We need local authorities on side maintain and, despite tight budgets, plough more resources into tourism. The knock-on effects will be worth it.

“We need more all-weather attractions and to work more closely with Poole and beyond. Bournemouth has a hell of a lot going for it but there is a tendency for people to knock it down. Anything that goes wrong is over-played.”