I AM writing to update readers on Bournemouth council’s expenditure in trying to obtain the NCP car park in Exeter Road.

Bournemouth residents will recall that the figures were made public by the council in the cabinet report in July 2014, when the decision was made to cease the CPO process.

At the time of commencing the compulsory purchase process over this key site for a bus hub in Bournemouth’s town centre, there was every likelihood that the council would be able to secure the site at an affordable price.

The developers had not commenced work on the site despite the plans having been approved in 2006/07, principally because the scheme was not fundable at that stage.

That was why we took the decision to try to secure the site for a bus hub, given that it was uniquely-placed to provide this vital facility for the town centre and to relieve the increasing and considerable congestion in Gervis Place.

The town has never owned the site and we needed to try to solve the problem if we could possibly do so.

However, as time progressed, a number of key factors changed. Instead of Licet Holdings progressing the scheme on the site, Legal & General became involved. They were successful in securing tenants and became the funders of the development, meaning work could begin on site. This had the effect of making the site significantly more valuable and later to become unaffordable for the council to acquire.

As we stated in the summer, our successful negotiations obtained funding from the developers to meet a significant proportion of the costs incurred in the CPO process as well as some funding towards improved bus facilities in Gervis Place.

Had we not taken the position we did, then I am sure we should have been rightly criticised for not trying to do what was in the best interests of the town by acquiring the only possible site for a bus hub. I therefore stand by the decisions we have taken throughout the process.

Meanwhile, bus congestion in Gervis Place continues to be a problem for passengers and pedestrians. We should not lose sight of the need to provide a better environment adjacent to Bournemouth’s superb listed Gardens. My hope is that we shall be able to improve this part of the town centre and try to go some way towards tackling bus congestion for the future.

CLLR JOHN BEESLEY,

Leader of Bournemouth council