POOLE town centre could be set for parking chaos if the new Barclays development gets the go-ahead, it is claimed.

The new multi-million pound office blocks, which look set to be granted planning permission tonight, would provide a total of just 222 standard car parking spaces, plus 15 disabled bays, for around 850 employees.

This would represent a significant decrease compared with parking for the current Barclays building, which is served by its own multi-story car park.

Poole council transport bosses, guided by government policy on reducing the number of people taking cars to work, hope the strain will be taken by the nearby bus and train stations.

The reality is many employees are likely to use their cars clogging up other car parks and roads in the town centre.

Town centre councillor Chris Bulteel said: "We are squeezing out the car so much that it is going to put pressure on other car parks in the town which are there to be used by shoppers and visitors. "People are still going to use their cars and the roads around the town centre are used for residents' parking, so commuters can't use them.

"I don't think there's enough parking for the site and there isn't sufficient public transport to encourage people to come into work that way."

Asda, which is developing the site, is in a Catch-22 scenario - it cannot provide extensive parking, should it want to, due to restrictions.

Jonathan Refoy, head of Asda's property communications, said: "The level of parking able to be provided is constrained by both national and local planning policy which sets out maximum permissible provision. This is particularly true of centrally located sites such as this."

The council says it is happy with the parking provision and public transport links.

Jim Bright, Poole council's strategic director, said: "The level of parking provision conforms with our guidelines. A new development like this needs to have regard to sustainability and in this town centre location, Barclays' staff can take advantage of a range of travel options.