Bournemouth West MP Sir Conor Burns is taking up the position of Chair for the Bournemouth Town Centre Action Partnership Group.
The new multi-agency group, which is focussed on delivering positive action for the town centre, will be made up of key partners, community groups and organisations.
Sir Conor Burns said: “I relish the opportunity to chair this new group. I thought carefully before accepting as the challenges are daunting but the opportunities immense. Everywhere I go, I hear how people want to see a sense of purpose and welcome restored to our town centre.
“They want it to feel safer and be cleaner. They want it policed and maintained. I could not pass up this opportunity to try and make a difference.
“Local people don’t care which party we are or which organisation we work in – they just want us to work together to make positive change. I am grateful to Cllr Slade who admirably has put political difference aside and reached out. I look forward to continuing to work with her, local people, those in BCP Council, our businesses, our Universities, the police, landlords and charities to pull together the latent potential that our town centre possesses.
“This Action Partnership group must not just make a difference but be seen to make a difference. The Town Centre Summit was as positive start. Now we must deliver positive solutions. I commit to working with anyone of goodwill, as we strive to put Bournemouth town centre on the pathway to a better future for all of us – residents and businesses alike.”
Following the Town Centre Survey, and successful Bournemouth Town Centre Summit last year, the new Bournemouth Town Centre Action Partnership Group will be taking forward and overseeing progress in responding to feedback from residents and businesses.
Councillor Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council, said: “It is fantastic that Sir Conor has offered to Chair this new collaborative group, which will bring together town centre voices who all share the collective ambition to deliver improvements in Bournemouth. I’m sure he will galvanise key partners and be the catalyst we need to bring forward new initiatives and improvements.
“Conor has been instrumental in gaining the interest of Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who supports our vision for the future. Both Conor and I look forward to updating him later this week.
“The council has a part to play, but we can’t do it all. We are just one piece in a larger jigsaw puzzle, and if we all come together in a meaningful way, we can deliver positive action.
“Our high streets are changing across the country, and we know many large towns like Bournemouth are facing similar challenges. However, for our part the council has changed its operations to reflect the responses from the Town Centre Survey and the Summit and I have seen some of these improvements first-hand. Bournemouth is a brilliant town and I feel confident about its future, especially through the leadership of this new partnership.”
Invitations to join the Action Partnership Group will be issued to key partners, community groups and organisations very soon.