IT is already one of the most controversial topics in the town. Now Bournemouth council has stoked the issue by asking property consultants to estimate the market value of every car park it owns in the borough.

The news has sparked accusations that the council is preparing to "sell off the family silver" in a bid to raise much-needed revenue.

Cabinet members say they have not yet decided to sell any car parks and all the consultant King Sturge has been asked to do is see how much each car park is worth.

But the suggestion is expected to fuel bad feeling among local people who are already angry about the high parking charges and the recent implementation of on-street parking on the East Over Cliff and West Over Road.

The council has begun investigations into how much their car parks could be worth by inviting bids for the Southbourne Crossroads car park, which enjoys views of the Isle of Wight and Old Harry Rocks, and part of the Woodside Road car park, also in Southbourne.

If the council was to sell off some of its car parks, it could rake in millions. It has previously been reported that the Terrace Mount car park could be worth around £6.5 million to a developer.

Cllr Basil Ratcliffe, the Conservatives' transport spokesman, said: "We rely on that car park income so heavily and when it's gone, it's gone.

"We already have a net shortfall of parking spaces and we would never be able to afford to buy somewhere to create more, so it's very important that we hang on to what we've got.

"It's just short-termism. They've got so many schemes in hand that all involve spending large sums of money that they are now desperately looking for ways of getting the money."

He also disputed claims that two car parks, those at Woodside Road and Southbourne Crossroads, were lightly used.

Peter Goodson, secretary of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "I think it's quite extraordinary they would be taking about getting the valuation of car parks because with the success of Castlepoint I think we need every bit of space available for car parking.

"Selling any car park would have an effect on the town-centre economy."

But Cllr Adrian Fudge, cabinet member for quality services and value for money, said: "We want to look and see what sort of value individual car parks might have.

"We would then have to ascertain the usage of those and whether we want to provide different facilities in a particular area.

"The Audit Commission made the point that we are asset rich and cash poor. We need to invest money in Bournemouth and the only place we're going to get it is from the sale of assets."

Peter Atfield, director of planning and development at Goadsby and Harding in Bournemouth, said the old Bournemouth Town Centre local plan states that developers have to give back the same amount of public car parking spaces as part of the deal.

But he added that councils also have to follow the government plan by encouraging people back on to public transport - with car parking spaces not needed.

Roger Ball, head of Technical Services, said: "We are currently ascertaining market interest in Southbourne Crossroads car park and part of the Woodside Road car park.

"With regards to all the other car parks in the borough, the consultants are providing strategic advice on the development potential of the council's assets identified under the council's asset management plan.

"Once the report has been received from the consultants, a further comprehensive report, which will include the council's officers' advice, will be presented to members in the New Year."

First published: November 6