RESIDENTS rejected a developer's plans for a park-and-ride scheme planned for land near Royal Bournemouth Hospital at a public meeting.

The issue was being debated at a meeting of Strouden Park, Muscliff, Throop, Holdenhurst and Townsend Forum being held at Bournemouth School For Girls last night.

Royal Bournemouth Hospital has submitted plans for a new diagnostic and treatment centre, renal dialysis unit, staff training facilities, nursing home and up to 400 extra car parking spaces alongside existing buildings.

But Troika Developments, which owns the site, wants to build a £50 million mix of office accommodation, park-and-ride scheme and new access junction from the A338 Spur Road.

Forum committee member Wendy Sharp, who has campaigned against the Troika plans, said: "I've been fighting this park-and-ride because this is the gateway to development in the green belt.

"Troika want to have over 900 parking spaces on the site for approximately 3,000 workers. There's going to be quite a lot of people driving around looking for parking spaces.

"I believe it's going to attract more cars to Castle Lane."

Mrs Sharp also pointed to photographic evidence of flooding on the site displayed at the back of the hall which she said proves the area is prone to flooding.

Cllr Jim Courtney told the meeting: "I'm rather concerned about this particular development. I think most of us would agree. I was seriously ill a few years ago and had to travel to Dorchester for dialysis. Some people have to travel to Yeovil.

"So we need improved facilities. I would like to see the land used to improve local facilities for people."

Cllr Angela Manton told the meeting that the Local Transport Plan has been amended to remove a reference to the park-and-ride scheme.

She added: "The whole area is a flood plain. The whole thing is not viable."

Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, Tobias Ellwood, said it was all part of a larger plan by the South West Regional Assembly which is proposing a reviewing of Bournemouth's green belt status, expansion of Bournemouth Airport, and 43,000 more houses to be built in Bournemouth Poole and Christchurch by 2026.

He said: "It will eat into the green belt and there are considerations about the flood plain.

"This is the gateway to massive development in Bournemouth."

First published: October 13