Town Centre Vision
Does Bournemouth Town Centre need more leisure attractions to appeal to residents and tourists?
Residents are being asked what they’d like to see in the town and where and which facilities they’d pay to use regularly.
Comments are also being sought on whether the town needs more of any particular type of hotel for example or whether residential units should be encouraged in the Town Centre.
The answers will help the Council to come up with a Town Centre Vision to put Bournemouth on the map for future generations.
Deputy Leader of Bournemouth Borough Council, Cllr John Beesley said: “With an asset as great as our beaches it’s easy to see why visitors keep coming to Bournemouth. Sadly the weather isn’t always in our favour and we have to ensure we have a varied enough menu of attractions to make the town a magnet rain or shine.
“We’re trying to create a vibrant economic legacy for future generations growing up in the town and want to enhance the town’s reputation as a premier tourist resort.
“We’re open to suggestions – it could be anything that draws people in. Among the suggestions we’ve heard from stakeholders so far are requests for a lido swimming pool, an art gallery, ice rink and a spa.”
The projects incorporated in the final vision will have a real impact on the major development decisions of the future and will be dependent on funding from private companies.
Discussions are already underway to determine whether Bournemouth needs to widen its hotel offering to expand its luxury, mid-market or budget markets.
Alison Gandolfi, chairman of Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association, said: “What we’d like to see is quality development in Westover Road – ice rinks are flavour of the month but could be difficult financially. We’d prefer not to see any more nightclubs or another hotel unless it’s to replace an existing hotel.
“Another idea that might be good is an indoor antique art market on Westover Road and tropical gardens on the site of the Winter Gardens.
“Bournemouth already provides well for visitors and residents but we must never sit back and say ‘no more’. We do want one or two more central attractions but people shouldn’t forget the wonderful attractions outside of the Town Centre.”
The Town Centre Vision will focus on a circuit taking in the Pier Approach, Exeter Road, Gervis Place, Hinton Road and Bath Road as well as Old Christchurch Road and the wider Town Centre area up to the railway station. Among the topics being discussed are transport links, the quality of shopping and residential use.
It will be delivered in a series of stages phased from now through the next 20 years.
Email towncentrevision@bournemouth.gov.uk for your opportunity to comment.
Release date: December 19, 2007
