COUNCILLORS in Bournemouth are to call for support for work to explore new transport schemes – including monorail and underground systems – in a bid to alleviate congestion on the area's roads.

A motion will be put forward at next Tuesday’s meeting of the council calling for the authority to ‘urgently’ look into alternative ways of moving people across the Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole area.

It will be lodged by Cllr Michael Filer with the support of the chairman of the environment and economy scrutiny committee, Cllr Mark Anderson, in an attempt to address the area’s ‘serious’ congestion problems.

The feasibility of a light rail system in Bournemouth was explored by council officers in a report published in September which said it ‘could fulfil a role’ in the town’s transport network.

Following this and ‘in view of the serious traffic problems’ in the area, Cllr Filer will raise his motion at Tuesday’s (December 4) council meeting.

It calls for the council to look at alternative off-road transport systems for the wider conurbation.

Cllr Mark Anderson, who will second the move, said he believed there was widespread agreement among councillors that a new system was needed.

He said: “It’s a great idea to replace cars and buses with electric vehicles but at the end of the day you are still going to have the same number on the roads and we all know that they are at capacity all the way from Christchurch to Poole.

“To alleviate the problems, we need to look into other transport options be it underground, above ground or by sea.

“I’m open to any suggestions and if you can build it and think you can make a profit out of it I’m happy to support you.

Cllr Anderson added that he wished for it to be a privately-funded operation but said that he would be willing to work to provide “initially funding” to get projects started.

He added that his work had been supported by MP Tobias Ellwood who had informed him that there was some government funding available for the work.