The first of three ‘Days of Action’ aimed at improving Bournemouth town centre is being held today, Wednesday January 24
An engagement stand will be based outside NatWest bank in Bournemouth Square between 11am and 3pm.
Residents are urged to come along and engage with representatives from BCP Council and partners including Dorset Police and Bournemouth Town Centre BID.
The council says that following a Town Centre summit nine weeks ago, it has been working hard with its partners to deliver and enable positive change for the town centre.
Areas where residents and businesses requested improvement include cleansing, parking enforcement, enabling the commercial use of empty premises and organising days of action.
Since the summit, the council has prioritised improvements in these specific areas, working with Bournemouth Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) to:
- Paint lampposts
- Undertake manual weed treatment
- Remove fallen leaves
- Wash down litter bins
- Remove stickers and graffiti.
BCP Council’s Parking Enforcement team has been undertaking additional targeted patrols in key areas across the town centre, including Old Christchurch Road, working to increase road safety and improve journey times.
During three, six-hour targeted patrols earlier this month, 111 Penalty Charge Notice’s (PCN’s) were issued, and a large number of vehicles moved on for being illegally parked.
The council says it will continue to work alongside Dorset Police to enforce this for the benefit of residents and businesses.
Cllr Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council, pictured, said: “The council continues to prioritise Bournemouth town centre, not just with words, but with action.
“I have seen first-hand the amazing work carried out by officers in our parking and cleansing services.
“I’ve been able to see what our street cleansing operatives face at 4am every day of the week and witness how challenging parking enforcement can be in a busy town centre close to midnight on a Saturday.
“I’m encouraged by the work already being done to improve these aspects of Bournemouth town centre, but I know there is still lots to be done.
“I have been clear from the outset that BCP Council can’t do this alone.
“We simply do not have the funds to deliver all of the improvements that were captured in the Town Centre Survey, it must be a shared effort.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my commitment to do all we can to remove the barriers and bureaucracy to empower our communities to do more in the town centre.”
BCP Council recently published the results of its Town Centre Survey, which are informing its priorities moving forward and reflect the need for change in these areas.
The results can be seen here.