BOURNEMOUTH should consider a bid to build a butterfly house in the resort, a councillor has said.

As previously reported, former mayor Rod Cooper has partnered with two businessmen to suggest building the attraction on the site of the former Imax cinema.

But Bournemouth council has so far rejected the idea, saying the public would not want a building at the Waterfront site on the scale that would be required.

The site’s current use as an outdoor performance area was intended to be a temporary measure until the economy in the leisure sector revived.

Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts said he liked the idea and would raise it at the next meeting of the council’s economy and environment scrutiny panel.

“I’m not sure whether I’m the only councillor that supports it but I don’t quite understand why it’s been kicked back because I think it would be wonderful to have something like that in Bournemouth,” he said.

“I’m not sure whether it would fit in at the Imax site though. I would prefer it nearer the gardens and to complement the gardens because the Bournemouth brand is all about gardens. I’ve always felt Bournemouth needed an indoor, botanic-type garden.”

Mr Cooper is working with Sherborne resident Clive Farrell, who owns Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm and Butterfly World in Florida, and with Luke Brown , who has been responsible for the butterfly house at London’s Natural History Museum for 10 years.

Cllr Stanley-Watts said: “The people that were mentioned looked to be a good reputable company with attractions in Florida. I feel that’s important. It would be great to have a touch of Florida in Bournemouth.”