Small Discussion Groups on the Character Areas: Seven Tables Were Set up and Each Group Discussed the Character Area Analysis

Chair: Harry Seccombe [email protected] www.boscombepokesdown.org.uk Twitter: @NPBoscombe Facebook: Boscombe and Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan Technical Advisor Martha Covell ECA Community Interest Company [email protected] 6.30PM- 8.30PM, THURSDAY 6TH OCTOBER 2016 QUESTIONS ASKED WERE AS FOLLOWS: Small discussion groups on the character areas: Seven tables were set up and each group discussed the character area analysis: • What are the strengths of your area? • What are the weaknesses of your area? • What is the potential impact of the planning policies on your area? • What are the opportunities for change? • Can you think of any planning policies that would benefit your area? • If you could change 1 thing what would it be? NOTES FROM GROUP DISCUSSIONS AREA 1: STRENGTHS 1. Pam and PCF- A very resourceful group of local residents. 2. AFC Bournemouth – at present successful in the Premier League, bringing supporters to the area to eat, drink, shop. 3. The station. With new lifts promised it will open up train travel to even more people who can alight at Pokesdown. 4. The beach/coast – gives that open skies feeling missing in places like Winton. 5. Excellent bus service. 6. Short level walk to shops. 7. The vintage and antique shops that have clustered together. 2 WEAKNESSES 1. Too many HMOs/1 bed flats and poor quality conversions have caused cramped conditions. Not enough resident parking or facilities for rubbish disposal that work. This in turn has attracted drug users/dealers and way too many persons on benefits some of whom cause ASB. Population density is over the maximum recommended. 2. Drug dealers target the area. 3. Robbery and theft from residents and businesses fuel the purchase of drugs 4. This urban intensification impacts on residents and business for parking. We need parking for residents and shoppers. Speed humps to stop the reckless drivers. 5. Too many rehab center’s in Boscombe and poorly supported ‘ addict sheltered housing’ in the area cause trouble. 6. Residents fear the bad planning decisions made previously, recently and currently under Permitted Development. The planners seem to have decided ours is the area to blight with more 1 bed housing by greedy developers and residents feel powerless to prevent it. We want to see family housing with adequate parking spaces not bike sheds that lie empty waiting for drug dealing/taking. 7. Fear of large chains like Costa and Subway taking away the chances for more individual shops. NEEDS 1. More trees and green space. 2. Speed bumps 3. Well thought out family housing with gardens for children. 4. Restoration of our beautiful buildings in Pokesdown. 5. The GC Produce site should become a community/ arts/ drama centre. 6. Keep the shops from Parkwood Rd to the station. No more rubbish conversions. 7. Landlords should be made responsible to keep their buildings/frontages clean and tidy/gardens neat. 8. Need for more workshops for small businesses. 9. Compulsory purchase from absent freeholders who property is empty and decaying. CHANGE ONE THING Review the conservation and heritage policy on buildings in Pokesdown immediately. List more of the buildings to prevent their destruction. AREA 2: STRENGTHS: 1. Proximity to the beach and coast 2. The Shelly Theatre 3. Tennis courts 4. Excellent transport links 5. Relatively easy (and largely free) parking 3 6. Woodland Walk 7. Green spaces WEAKNESSES 1. Unfinished developments 2. Empty (often new) flats not yet for sales 3. Large plots are attractive to developers 4. Large houses converted to low rent bedsits 5. Flats often lack adequate parking 6. Crime including drug dealing including what goes on in Woodland Walk and the rear of the high street OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE: 1. Reduction of crime, particularly drug related that causes so many other crimes. 2. Planning control restricting the over use of HMO's that can significantly alter the balance of the community. AREA 3: Champion- Peter Holloway STRENGTHS: 1. Quirky quarter 2. Bus routes 3. AFC Bournemouth 4. Kings Park/ Pubs/ Bar/ café/ schools/ shops nearby 5. Close to beaches WEAKNESSES 1. Drug dealing patches and increase of 2. Pressures on on-street parking added to by new developments without parking provision. This is causing residents disharmony IMPACT OF PLANNING POLICIES 1. Prior approval permitted development shops- residential- shops 2. Loosing shops- oh dear! OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE: 1. More promotion of the ‘quirky quarter’ 2. Protection of the architecture 3. A ‘community shed’- intergenerational 4 AREA 4: Champion- Paul Smart STRENGTHS: WEAKNESSES OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE: AREA 4 DISCUSSION GROUP 6th October 2016 Discussion started with two strong views about the Crescent, asking why it was not in our area. For the purposes of discussion we included it. Discussion by area is a tool to enable focus and discussion is able to cross the 'boundaries' and not be limited by them. The Crescent has huge and unrealised potential as a positive community resource and would benefit from attention as a specific asset to the community. The work completed a while ago has improved things but the proposed provision of a small cafe outlet and wifi has not happened. There was a strong view that this needs to be reclaimed as a public space and is all too often occupied by groups of (largely) men drinking. The proximity of the police hub does not seem to have impacted on this. STRENGTHS The Crescent (as above) Access to independent shops nearby. Churchill Gardens. There there has been much positive change in recent years and an increasing sense of community. Events bringing people together. This is already a 'hub' and focus for the local community and needs more well designed homes for families. (using current properties that are bedsits). The new cafe (run by a Christian group – Vinyard) is a real asset. The details of the lease were not known by the group and it would be helpful to clarify these so that it can be maximised as a long term and sustainable community asset. Friends of Churchill Gardens is already a group in existence and could be re energised with new members. Architecture, including St Clements School (Grade 1 listed building), which is also near to the Gardens. 5 WEAKNESSES Accommodation – top heavy with HMO and not a good ratio with family homes. Homeowners that are not resident and houses, gardens and frontages poorly maintained. This could be remedied easily and would have a huge impact on the area. This was an important and significant issue with the group as it also affects the way people perceive the area. It would help to have clarity on the current council action and plans that were started a few years ago to work with landlords to improve conditions. Alley ways, back of Walpole Road in particular, these are dark, bleak and risk-laden. They have a huge potential to be clean and well lit walkways. Coal Yard borders the area and there is huge potential for that to be a positive asset and its ownership and potential could be explored. (Note: There has subsequently been an announcement that there will be a viewing of plans for 'high quality' homes.) Too many cars, especially when school opens and closes. This causes much congestion. WHAT NEXT? ONE THING TO CHANGE. Less dense population, ie better family home provision. Cycling encouraged and facilitated. More recycling (and green/ sustainability) Enhance and improve the Crescent. Continue to grow Churchill Gardens as a sustainable community space AREA 5: STRENGTHS: • Cycling on beach limited during peak season • Feels well planned and laid out on beach area • The beach itself • Boscombe Pier • Varied use of beach, by diverse groups • Life guard pods 6 • ‘Italian Gardens’ stretching from Marina Rd to Boscombe Overcliffe Drive • Toilets in the gardens • San Remo Towers WEAKNESSES • Extremely steep access down to the promenade, Harvester Pub, Urban Reef etc with no vehicular access allowed. Makes it inaccessible to many people with mobility problems • Chine Hotel closes in the winter, thus loss of access to their swimming pools (one heated and outside) and gym, which is open to non-guests • Pier head: Most of the year and by tea time in summer, the shops are closed… what a waste and an eye sore • Top half of Harvester empty and un-used. Could be used for community meetings, local businesses, Adult Social Care clinics etc • Toilets closed most of the time out of peak season. Especially early morning and into the evenings, there’s therefore no toileting facilities for local residents who walk, jog, cycle along the beach • On-street parking very limited, especially peak summer season • Shoppers to Boscombe avoid parking fees by parking further out in free residential parking areas • Extremely dangerous for pedestrians to cross over on the sharp corner and junction of Owl’s Road/Wharncliffe Rd/Boscombe Spa Rd No public transport from Boscombe into Zone 5. No buses. No train station. No shuttle links between piers / from train station OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE: • Make parking free throughout Boscombe, especially the formal car parks • And/or consider free parking for local residents • And/or consider only charging during July & Aug • Provide Public transport into and up to the pier: buses, shuttles from Boscombe promenade, Bournemouth Pier/Gardens and train stations (Bournemouth and Boscombe) • 7 miles of sea water and it’s not being used for transport. So much potential if landing platforms added to both piers, to enable regular travel between piers, Sandbanks, Hengistbury, Poole, Brownsea Island, Shell

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