A TOWN centre cinema and restaurant scheme, which has been claimed could break ground next summer, has been branded “pie in the sky” by the developer of a rival project.

Trevor Osborne, who is behind the Pavilion Gardens plans for Westover Road, which will see a cinema, shops and restaurants be built, said the £50million West Central scheme at the Exeter Road car park couldn’t go ahead.

As reported in the Daily Echo on Thursday, developer Licet Holdings Ltd said that the proposals, which it claims will create 300 jobs, were ready to go.

However, the council wants the land for a transport hub and has previously said it would consider a compulsory purchase order for the car park, owned by NCP, if necessary.

Mr Osborne told the Daily Echo: “The fact of the matter is the council requires this site as part of the transport plans for the town and they need a bus garage, so the existing scheme cannot go ahead without the council’s co-operation because they own a very important part of the site.”

He said claims that building could start next year were “pie in the sky”.

There are also £100m plans to build a cinema, flats, restaurants, a hotel and supermarket at the Winter Gardens site.

A spokesman for Planning Solutions, which has been involved in both the Winter Gardens and Pavilion plans, said: “The council is behind the two schemes, but unfortunately the NCP scheme cannot be implemented at the present time.

“To say it creates 300 jobs and investment is flawed.”

Cllr John Beesley, Bourne-mouth council’s deputy leader, said: “The agreement to provide land to enable the scheme proposed by Licet lapsed some time ago.

“In October 2011 council officers met with representatives of Licet and NCP. At this meeting officers advised Licet that any development for this site would need to deliver improvements to public transport within the town centre in order to achieve council support.”

He added that the council was still exploring options for the site and there had been a number of meetings with NCP.

Jo Cooper, NCP’s chief executive, said: “The key things here are that we (NCP) own the site, we have a renewed consent from the council and we have a willing development partner in Licet, which has secured funding for the scheme.”

Chris Dymond, Licet’s director, added said West Central was proving very popular.

“It’s the ideal location, right in the centre of town, which means that people will be drawn in through the shopping areas and gardens to enjoy Bournemouth and all its facilities.”

He added that names including Cafe Rouge and Nandos had already signed up to have restaurants on the site.