PLANS are under way to create a Stour Valley Park with a new trail for walkers and cyclists.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Dorset councils are working together with the Environment Agency, Wessex Water, Bournemouth Water and other organisations to consolidate existing policies covering the area between Kingston Lacy and Hengistbury Head.

According to a briefing prepared for Bournemouth's environment and transport scrutiny panel next week, the plan will take the best policies for housing, transport, environment and leisure and apply them to the whole area of the valley.

It states: "These policies, aims and objectives have been developed by different organisations and departments at different times, they can be complex to apply to geographic areas of the town in a joined-up way.

"Working across local authority boundaries can prove even more challenging.

"The aim of the Stour Valley Park is to collate existing policies, aims and objectives from different organisations to develop a coherent land management and development plan for the Lower River Stour landscape that can give the best possible outcomes for the area."

The report says identifying the area in this will allow it to be designated as Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace, or SANG, and therefore a target for community infrastructure levy contributions from developers, Local Enterprise Partnership and National Lottery funding and charity support.

In terms of policies, the plan includes providing early guidance to developers planning housing in the area to make such projects "more sustainable" and developing off-road routes and "greenways" to reduce traffic on roads.

The report says: "We'll help with access management and brand identity for local produce.

"The Lower Stour will gain a sense of place; there will be increased trade and income through tourism, planned development, restoration and mitigation.

"We'll work to develop pride in belonging to the 'Park' brand and regional identity, and in a wider sense, we'll make the area a great place to come to work, rest and play."

The project would aim to uncover and protect historical and archaeological sites, restore lost habitats and even reintroduce species, and improve water quality.

The "Lower Stour Trail" would run from Kingston Lacy to Hengistbury Head, with facilities for walkers, cyclists and buggy and wheelchair users, bike hire, angling, horse-riding and signposted points of interest.