The most detailed consultation to date about the future of Bournemouth Town Centre has been launched.

The results will help create an Area Action Plan to shape planning policy, guide change and determine the appropriate scale and type of regeneration delivered through the Town Centre Vision.

The options up for discussion have been shaped by earlier vision consultations. Issues raised include the future of key development sites, whether and where to allow tall buildings, the creation of new public spaces and how to make the town centre easier to move around.

Cllr John Beesley, Deputy Leader of Bournemouth Council, urged the public to take part. He said: “Your comments will help us decide appropriate uses for certain parcels of land within the town centre and will gauge public appetite for change.

“The Town Centre Vision is progressing well – six private companies and consortiums interested in working with us to fund and deliver the vision will be short listed to two or three in March and the successful bidder will be selected in June.

“The public-private partnership will generate hundreds of millions of pounds of improvements such as new homes, offices, retail opportunities and attractions alongside improvements to infrastructure and the physical environment.”

The consultation document considers options for establishing a ‘sustainable travel priority zone’ to give greater priority to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. This could involve widening pavements, reducing the width of some roads, creating more cycle or bus lanes and introducing some shared surface streets to encourage slower traffic speeds.

It also seeks views on the future locations of public car parking and gives ideas to better link the railway station with the town centre.

The consultation document can be viewed at all Bournemouth libraries, in the planning offices in St Stephens Road and online at www.towncentrevision.co.uk . Responses must be submitted by March 8, 2010.

Drop-in sessions providing further information about the consultation will also be held in Bournemouth Library between 1pm and 3pm on February 6, 5pm to 7pm on February 9 and 10am to midday on February 10.

The final Area Action Plan will be announced following further stages of consultation, government scrutiny and a public inquiry.