EXCESSIVE charges are deterring “overburdened” developers from building in Bournemouth, councillors have claimed.

A controversial new transport contribution scheme, which requires developers to pay £713 for each new car trip they generate, has only generated 10 per cent of the anticipated income during its first year.

And fears have been expressed that the scheme could jeopardise projects like the Kings Park ice rink, which, under the current system, would require a transport contribution of £1.6m.

Cllr Ron Whittaker, Independent councillor for Throop, has labelled the situation “mad”.

He said: “No developer from the private world at the time of the present downturn can make such a contribution.“ At a meeting of the Local Development Framework steering group, he said: “The present system is not working – we can’t carry on as we are.

“In Poole, they can build five homes before the developer has to make a contribution – our policy is zero.”

Bournemouth council leader Cllr Peter Charon said development had “fallen off a cliff face” and added: “when you overburden an industry this is what happens.

“There comes a point when you can’t pass on the extra costs to the end user.”

The meeting heard the transport levy is supposed to raise £165m towards transport in south west Dorset by 2026.

However, the Bournemouth element has raised only £70,000 in its first year.

Cllr Rob Lawton, former cabinet member for transport, denied a suggestion the policy is “a complete mess” and said the economy had also affected development.

“The market has changed quite considerably over the last 18 months,” he said.

The group agreed to ask the council’s cabinet to review the viability of the policy on developers contributions.