AFC Bournemouth chairman Eddie Mitchell is calling for immediate action to be taken on Bournemouth’s ice centre.

Following fears the multi-million pound scheme at King’s Park is in “meltdown”, the Cherries chairman has hit out at the state of the park – particularly the heavy lorry access.

Mr Mitchell, who last year unveiled ambitious plans for a new 3,400-seat South Stand at the football ground along with a hotel and spa complex, said: “My main concern is the state of the park.

“And with the way it is, it’s going to be hard to find investors.

“The park is inundated with lorries each day at the moment and the access is not really designed for lorries – it’s dangerous, especially for parents and children.

“There will be an accident.”

He said the club had recently spent “quite a lot of money” improving the car park at the front of the stadium.

“But already the main entrance has been smashed by a lorry,” he added.

“No one is making any effort to relocate the lorries anywhere and we could make the park a better place.

“It is just cutting out the obstacles that are put in the way – finally taking some action rather than just talking about it.

“Somebody needs to get a grip of it and the football club would be more than happy to step in and help.

“We have the funds to invest in the surrounding area of the park.”

A property developer by trade, Mr Mitchell added: “We would like to regenerate that area. It’s a lovely park but it’s lacked maintenance in the past and it’s got heavy lorries going in and out of it every day.”

Cllr John Beesley, deputy leader at Bournemouth council, said the council was “well on track in inviting potential operators to come forward with their proposals”.

He also reassured people that the council would do “everything possible” to bring the facility to King’s Park.