COUNCIL claims that a Bournemouth park cannot be opened to all traffic during two-month bridge repair works in Boscombe have been branded “absolute rubbish” by a former civic leader.

Just days after Cllr Robert Lawton maintained that the local authority was prohibited from opening King’s Park to any vehicle other than single-decker buses, ex-councillor Adrian Fudge told the Daily Echo that the park could be re-opened to ease current traffic congestion.

Earlier this week we revealed how hundreds of motorists have received warnings after being caught on camera driving through the park.

Cllr Lawton, cabinet member for environment and transport, said £70 penalty notices would be issued to those continuing to flout warning signs and road markings.

Boscombe Traders’ Association chairman Steve Kent accused the council of “cashing in” on confused motorists struggling to find their way around during the Ashley Road closure.

Mr Fudge said: “The council went to Judicial Review over the traffic through the park and the Charity Commission removed its objection, leaving it up to the council to decide what vehicles it does or does not allow through.

“If enough people complained my bet is that cars would soon be let through.”

Proposed court proceedings to try and settle a long-running row about access arrangements to AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Court stadium were dropped last summer.

Three years earlier Bournemouth council decided to go to the High Court to resolve the issue of whether cars crossing Five Parks Trust land to access Dean Court were breaching the Five Parks Trust. The issue was first raised with the Charity Commission by the Friends of Kings Park.

The Charity Commission told the council it could not continue to let fans drive through the park to the Gloucester Road exit after matches. But councillors sought their own legal advice and were told they had no obligation to close Gloucester Road.

The council was prepared to go to court for a definitive view but decided last summer not to pursue this after being advised that the attorney general agreed with its stand.

The Charity Commission cannot challenge the council in court without the agreement of the attorney general.

In a statement yesterday Cllr Lawton confirmed that “the council can exercise its discretion with regard to the use of the park’s roads.”

He said the local authority had “agreed, working with the Friends of King’s Park, that during the bridge closure the route through the park will be open to buses and for access for the free park and 10 pence ride to serve shops and other businesses in Boscombe.”

Cllr Lawton added: “As a trustee of the Five Parks Charity the council has a responsibility for the management of the park as a public open space and to ensure that we protect the park land for the benefit and interests of residents and visitors who use it.”