FRESH doubts have been cast over claims that Waitrose would quit the Christchurch store if its landlord cannot buy the adjoining car park site.

BCP Council's Conservative administration is drawing up plans to sell the car park for £1.5m to raise cash and allegedly to avoid the food retailer leaving town.

Full council is due to vote on the proposal on Tuesday night.

But this afternoon, BCP's overview and scrutiny meeting is to meet in a special session to discuss the move - which opponents say is BCP 'asset stripping' the borough.

Now the Echo has been made aware of a memo from Waitrose management telling staff not to worry about any claims the store might close.

The memo from a senior executive says the firm has long sought to secure the car park as part of its lease agreement

It says: "I wanted to give an update... on the story in the Bournemouth Echo on Waitrose using the lease renewal as a bargaining chip to gain control of the car park.

"The official answer is, we have long been seeking to secure the car park as part of our lease. Negotiations are ongoing and we will update partners as soon as we can."

It goes on: "For now I would advise everyone not to panic and this is all quite common in lease negotiations.

"You will all have seen the recent investment in the shop with the new fire alarms, new headsets coming in, wifi upgrades and the confidence in us taking on more e-commerce."

The Christchurch store is also thought to be one of the most profitable in the entire Waitrose network despite alleged company concerns about its performance, partly blamed on 'a lack of control' of the car park.

Since 2010, the site's landlord has been GM Investment Trustees Ltd, part of General Motors.

The firm is also understood to be in advanced stages of developing a mezzanine floor in the building.

A number of BCP opposition councillors have questioned the sale, the terms and say it won't benefit the town.

It is understood the £1.5m would be used for BCP 'restructuring and transformation.’

At this afternoon's meeting it is thought there will be a move to recommend the car park stays in the hands of BCP Council and a matter of urgency an asset policy for acquisitions and disposals be drawn up.

The council does not currently have one.