A SENIOR councillor has voiced fears that a new road to ease the jams around Royal Bournemouth Hospital may never be built.

Cllr Ron Whittaker has called for a Plan B to deal with the congestion “nightmare” which happens regularly around the hospital on Castle Lane.

Cllr Whittaker, who is standing down from Bournemouth council next month after 44 years, fears the planned new link road may never be built and says it is years away at best.

The government recently announced £5.7million towards a new road access between the hospital and the A338 Wessex Way, to be built between 2019 and 2021. Bournemouth council hopes to get the project moved ahead to 2018-19.

But Cllr Whittaker said the scheme could fall victim to changes of policy in the meantime. “That’s why I think the hospital needs now to come forward with their application for the access talked about for years to the rear, so at least staff might have a better chance of leaving that what operates at present,” he said.

“I’m told again that last Friday was another nightmare with long tailbacks and an hour-plus spent in cars.”

Bournemouth council and Royal Bournemouth Hospital are working on a package of improvements, including shortening the westbound bus lane on Castle Lane East by 100 metres and the eastbound bus lane by 60 metres to improve capacity for traffic.

The major new junction with the Wessex Way would be linked to developing farm land at the back of the hospital and would take three-to-five years to complete.

Bill Cotton, Bournemouth council’s executive director for environment and economy, said the council was dedicating “significant resources” to improving the situation.

“Our priority is to keep the town moving and through additional government funding for specific works through Three Towns Travel we have invested in the large bus hub facility at RBH,” he said.

“In addition to this we have provided assistance through the recently formed Business Travel Network, which is supporting businesses in developing more effective sustainable workplace travel plans in a bid to encourage their staff to travel sustainably.”

He added: “Following the recent announcement from government of £5.7million towards the cost of a new access off the Wessex Way in 2019-21, the council is working with all relevant parties to bring this construction forward to 2018/19.”