A NEW ‘Boris Bike’ cycle hire scheme is being worked on for Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch train stations.

Bournemouth council had baulked at the idea of a full hop-on, hop-off scheme across the town as it would require too many sites across the town, costing an expected hundreds of thousands of pounds.

But since a total of £20m in government transport grants were awarded to councils in Dorset the scheme is back on the table for the three stations and another cycle hire point could be set up by Bournemouth University .

Ian Kalra, Bournemouth’s transport manager, told the town’s chamber of trade and commerce group that council officers are looking into the project.

He said: “We are moving forward with two initiatives.

“One based on the three railway stations and another one at the university.”

A full scheme like the one introduced in London by mayor Boris Johnson was previously regarded by councillors in Bournemouth as the most “exciting” option, but would require at least 30 cycle hire sites across the town.

In Blackpool around £500,000 was spent setting up 55 stations with 300 bikes.

It is hoped that having bikes at the train stations will encourage more people to leave their car at home and commute to work.

And the bikes could also be marketed towards day trippers so they can ride to the town centre and beach.

In May Bournemouth Borough Council won £4.6million funding from the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Then in June Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset councils were allocated £12.1million from the same fund.

It is hoped the money can be used to clear up the congested A35 corridor through Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

The work is expected to include traffic lights and bus ‘super stops’, with better information and more lighting at bus shelters.

Money will also go on cycle stands where people can lock their bikes up safely.

Councillor Michael Filer, pictured, cabinet member with responsibility for transport at Bournemouth council, invited suggestions for the project.

He said that after the council sets up the scheme it is expected to be run as a private enterprise.

“We are not trying to compete with London but with the three stations and university it’s a good start. It’s really a question of how it will be taken up and what the demand is.”