LET'S follow the example of the air show and permanently close the heart of Bournemouth town centre off to traffic.

That's the view of influential businessman Nigel Hedges.

"I would rather hear the birds singing than the screaming of diesel lorries and white vans fighting their way through town," said Mr Hedges, president of the town's Chamber of Trade.

"The air festival is going to be a great opportunity to see people walking about.

"I know some businesses are horrified at the thought of cars not being allowed in, but I defy anybody to prove these cars bring anything to Bournemouth now.

"Most of them are driving through. That's my own view, not necessarily the view of the chamber."

Mr Hedges raised the issue during this week's meeting of Westover Road Business Forum and spoke to the Daily Echo afterwards.

The air festival will see several roads closed from August 28 to 31 and Mr Hedges said previous road closures had been good for town-centre shopping. He said ideally only buses and taxis should be allowed past The Royal Bath Hotel or down Richmond Hill, with BIC traffic sent up Poole Hill.

"When the gas works outside Beales closed the roads you realised what a lovely town it could be without traffic, and footfall nearby went up," he said.

"I'm not anti-car - I run a sports car club. But Bournemouth is predicted to be gridlocked by 2016. We are still trying to manage with a Victorian road system."

Mr Hedges added: "We have lots of parking spaces but my main gripe is there are 3,000 empty parking spaces, day after day." He said the Town Centre Master Vision drawn up by the council and unveiled this month, which includes a suggestion to demolish the sea-front flyover, suggested the council was moving towards a traffic-free town centre.

"It would be a real battle to demolish it because it brings traffic to the BIC. I think the chances of it happening are pretty slim," he said.

Roger Parker, the town-centre manager, said: "I'm not a traffic expert but my instinct tells me preventing vehicular access would not be in the best interests of the town's commercial life."

Mark Wright, manager of jewellers Mappin and Webb in Westover Road, said: "Some customers buying high-value goods would not want to walk far but I think the majority would be okay with no traffic as long as there was adequate park-and-ride provision."

Cllr Dave Smith, a councillor representing town- centre residents, said: "I'd like to see many more traffic-free streets and pedestrian areas, because it makes it better and more relaxing without cars."

Leader of the council Stephen MacLoughlin said: "Over the years we've seen areas like Commercial Road, The Square and Old Christchurch Road pedestrianised, and I for one am keen to see it extended but we must get the balance right."