CONTROVERSIAL congestion charges could be introduced in Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch to tackle the problem of traffic-choked streets.

This is just one of the ideas being considered in a bid to unclog roads across the conurbation.

A light railway running from Wareham to New Milton is among the other radical ideas to tackle south-east Dorset’s transport needs over the next 20 years.

Following roadside surveys which caused gridlock two years ago and consultation last year, residents are now being asked to “cherry pick” from a range of options.

Among imaginative ideas is the Dorset Area Rapid Transport System, a light rail service running across the conurbation using existing railway lines, between main Waterloo services.

The idea has been mooted several times over the past two decades.

“It would be really new to this country,” said Rick Clayton, project manager for the study. “It’s been done in Europe for 20 years or longer.”

He said: “It would cost hundreds of millions of pounds. We are looking 20 years ahead, phased over a long period. It is ambitious and costly but feasible.”

A congestion charge across built-up Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch has been included in the consultation, but is not current local authority policy.

“The whole point of doing a study is to look at everything,” he said. This includes radical road building, greater investment in public transport, more park and rides, charges on workplace parking spaces and higher long-stay charges.

“It is important to stress that these options are suggested strategies that cover the full range of available measures,” said Mr Clayton.

They are arranged in themes and residents, visitors and commuters are being asked to fill in questionnaires available at libraries, council offices, and tourist offices across south east Dorset.

“The themes have been designed to generate discussion and feedback, and we hope that many of the people living and working in Dorset will take this opportunity to study the plans and have their say,” he said.

More than 600 people responded to last year’s consultation on the South East Dorset Transport Study, which aims to deliver transport improvements estimated at more than £400 million.

It will enable Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset councils to apply to government for the funding for future schemes, identified by the £2.2m four-year study.

As an incentive to fill in the freepost questionnaire, which can also be completed at sedorsetmms.com by July 30, there is a prize draw to win tickets for a day out on Swanage Railway.