A potential tram network across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has prompted mixed reactions from residents.
BCP Council’s overview and scrutiny board discussed the possibility of introducing a tram service across the conurbation, which previously had a tram network operating from 1901 until 1935.
Andy Lennox, chair of the Destination Management Board, said the proposal would depend on major government infrastructure funding and could take several years to build, adding that the area did not have the time or money needed.
He said more immediate improvements could include reducing roadworks to help buses move faster, working with MoreBus on services and developing a town centre to Bournemouth Airport shuttle route.
Mr Lennox also suggested bringing back seafront land trains, linking Hengistbury Head with Poole and stopping in each town centre.
Some residents questioned whether trams would fit on local roads. One said: “The roads are too small for this. BCP is a small link up of towns not a city.”
Another reader recalled seeing old tram foundations in Bournemouth during the late 1970s, including around Commercial Hill, Christchurch Road and Wimborne Road.
Others supported the principle of improved rail-based transport. One suggested a tram and train hybrid, using town centre loops and existing railway lines for quicker sections of the route.
Another said a tram service would be needed “all across BCP”, while a separate reader argued that modern electric trolley or battery buses could be a less expensive option.
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