A LIGHT railway system could have a role to play in Bournemouth’s transport network, but needs years of development, a report says.

As reported in the Echo yesterday, Bournemouth councillor Mark Anderson asked council officers to prepare a report on the feasibility of a light railway – possibly a monorail.

The resulting report, which will go before the borough’s environment and transport scrutiny panel on September 25, warns: “Developing a new transit scheme is a time consuming and costly affair with no guarantee of success.”

But it says previous research on the issue “would indicate that some form of light rail system could fulfil a role in the transport network of Bournemouth”.

It says the idea should be considered as part of a review of the area’s Local Plan, but that it could take six to 18 months to prepare a business case and 5-10 years after that for it to be delivered.

The report says previous research into a proposed light railway between Christchurch and Hamworthy suggests there is demand, and that there has been more growth around the university and Lansdowne since then.

It adds: “A scheme linking the principal travel generators of the universities’ main campuses, the Lansdowne, the football club and the Wessex Fields business park area including hospital is likely to have an underlying patronage sufficient to be successful.

“Further research as part of the local plan review is necessary but from preliminary examination a business case could be developed to support a transit system that linked these locations.”

It says the council could direct new development to areas where investment was going into transport, creating a “virtuous circle”.

The report says government policy does not subsidise public transport operations, but does provide loans and grants for major schemes where there is a business case.

Other funding could include a ring-fenced business rates supplement, subject to a maximum of 2p in the pound. Another option is a levy on employers who provide workplace parking over a certain threshold, usually 10 spaces.

The report reaches no judgement on the feasibility of any railway system.

The idea has been debated online at bournemouthecho.co.uk, with one commenter saying: “Why not? Other local authorities successfully run light rail systems and monorail minimises the cost of shifting underground utilities. A useful and symbolic link between Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, and a bit of a tourist attraction too.”

However, others questioned the practicality of the idea, with one saying: “The costs involved in the infrastructure would run into the hundreds of millions. Even for a multi-car, single-line circular route.”