THE decision to suspend a review of car parking provision across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has been called into question.

The subject of whether car parks are surplus to requirements came to the fore during BCP Council planning committee’s discussions over a cliff top site in Southbourne.

Developers wanted to build flats on the Southbourne Crossroads car park, however, councillors rejected the application at a meeting earlier this month.

During a lengthy debate on the proposal, the committee was told Bournemouth Borough Council members voted to declare the car park surplus to requirements.

This meant that no provision to replace it was needed as part of the plans to redevelop the site.

At the meeting, it was said by residents and ward councillors that the car park was needed, especially in the summer months and with the redevelopment plans for the nearby Bistro on the Beach site.

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However, a review of car parking has not taken place since BCP Council was formed in 2019.

Alexis Edwards, BCP Council’s transport development team leader, said: “The previous Unity Alliance administration started a strategic car parking review.

“The administration changed and that parking review has been paused indefinitely.”

Planning committee chair Cllr David Kelsey replied “so we do need to do a new one, I will remind the portfolio holder of that when I speak to him”.

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Regarding the Southbourne Crossroads car park West Southbourne councillor Bob Lawton said: “It was looked at as surplus to requirements at that time five years ago.

“I do remember someone saying that when the facts change, I change my mind and things have changed dramatically in the last two or three years.”

He added: “It’s been left to regress. It’s been left in a poor state and we should be ashamed as a council for allowing that to happen.”

Fellow planning committee member Cllr Stephen Bartlett said it was “disgusting” that it had been left to get into its current condition.

“Getting rid of public car parks is an absolute nonsense and we need to stop it,” said Cllr Bartlett.

BCP Council portfolio holder for transport and sustainability Cllr Mike Greene told the Daily Echo the strategic parking review was halted as a “direct result” of the pandemic.

“Trying to assess demand for parking during a period when many people were working from home would have not given a true sense of how our car parks are used,” said Cllr Greene.

“Instead a phased approach has been adopted, which in the short term has focussed on operations and ensuring that our parking operations are fully prepared for mass visitor events during the summer.

“Once we are content that conditions have stabilised following the pandemic we will revisit how parking across the BCP area is reviewed.”