Does Bournemouth have a clear enough Landmark? Does it need one? If so, what should it be?

 

These are the first of a series of questions being put to readers as part of a Council mission to create a Town Centre Vision to put Bournemouth firmly on the map for future generations.

 

Deputy Leader of Bournemouth Borough Council, Cllr John Beesley said: “We’re keen to hear what residents want – some people might feel that the Pier is enough of a landmark, others might think a more modern structure is needed to give Bournemouth an identifying feature and to create an extra draw for tourists.

 

“As a Council we are keen to preserve the town’s heritage but we should consider the economic and cultural benefits a suitable landmark could bring.”

 

The 170m Portsmouth Spinnaker Tower recently celebrated receiving its one millionth visitor. In the two years since its construction it has netted around £1.66million for the City Council.

 

Other prime landmarks in the country include the Angel of the North and the Millennium Bridge in Gateshead, Blackpool Tower, the Eden Project in Cornwall and the London Eye.

 

Elsewhere in the world key buildings such as the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Europa’s Gate in Madrid and New York’s Guggenheim Museum have become synonymous with place names and key tourist attractions.

 

Cllr Beesley added: “To help us achieve a vision for Bournemouth we’d like residents to comment on whether or not they’d like a new landmark for the town and if so what that landmark could symbolise.

 

“The comments we receive will be taken into consideration when we put forward a viable vision for the town.”

 

The Town Centre Vision is aiming to enhance Bournemouth’s unique selling points and will have a real impact on the major development decisions over the months and years ahead.

 

It will focus on a circuit taking in the Pier Approach, Exeter Road, Gervis Place, Hinton Road and Bath Road.  It will also include Old Christchurch Road and the wider Town Centre area up to the railway station and will consider transport links, the quality of shopping, tourist attractions and leisure facilities.

 

Visit www.bournemouth.gov.uk/towncentrevision for your opportunity to comment.

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