Bournemouth Town Centre Citizens’ Panel sets to work creating action plan

The fourth meeting of Bournemouth Town Centre Citizens’ Panel brought together almost 40 people from all backgrounds to start drafting an action plan to help the town centre thrive. 

Set up by Bournemouth West MP Jessica Toale in partnership with BCP Council Leader Millie Earl, the panellists were selected at random from over 200 applicants to represent the make up of the local area – different ages and backgrounds, united by a desire to work together to improve the town centre. 

The focus of this penultimate session was co-creating an action plan with recommendations of what different organisations and people could do to help the town. Initial ideas ranged from more street art and campaigns to encourage more volunteering to working more closely with large businesses and the universities. 

The issue of safety came up again, with residents sharing their concerns about feeling unsafe, about retail crime and discussions over whose responsibility it is to police the streets. 

Jessica said: “It’s really important to listen to, and understand, people who say they don’t feel safe – even when the crime stats show a different picture. But this panel is not just about discussing the issues – but coming up with shared solutions and it’s been incredible to hear so many great ideas from such a wide range of voices, from teenagers to traders and retired people and charity workers.” 

Millie said: “We've got a great panel of residents who are passionate about the place and want it to succeed. They're investing their time to understand the constraints of the Council and how to help shape ideas for the Town Centre to make this a meaningful process. I'm encouraged by the desire to support more volunteering, building partnerships and continuing the conversation about a shared plan.” 

Bournemouth Central Councillors were also invited, with Cllr Hazel Allen sharing her insights from her work with HealthBus – providing healthcare to people experiencing homelessness; and Jessica sharing the good news that the government has awarded BCP Council £2.2m more to support homeless people in the local area. 

Panelists also heard from Paul Kinvig, Chief Operating Officer at Bournemouth Town Centre BID who outlined the role they play in supporting projects, initiaitves and events in the town centre – from street cleaning and festive streets, to helping fund the local Writing Festival. He reflected on the changing face of the high street amid a nostalic longing for past incarnations of the town, and what businesses need to invest here today. 

“We have three five-storey department stores in Bournemouth,” said Paul. “We didn’t need that. People say to me ‘I used to love walking around Debenham’s, Beales and House of Fraser’, ‘did you buy anything?’ I asked,‘no!’ they’d say. Because now our department stores are on our phones.” 

The session, at Patch on the first floor of Bobby’s - formerly Debenhams in the Square, built on earlier meetings looking at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the town centre – where the limitations may be around funding and powers, and what work is already underway. 

The final session of the Bournemouth Town Centre Citizens’ Panel will take place next month (November), led again by Richard Eastham of Feria Urbanism, where the action plan will be finalised for release around the end of the year.