To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-
The deadline for the submission of public questions is Monday 23 September 2019.
The deadline for the submission of a statement is 12.00 noon, Friday 27 September 2019.
The deadline for the submission of a petition is 12.00 noon, Friday 27 September 2019.
Minutes:
The Leader reported that two public questions had been submitted.
Public Question from Conor O’Luby, local resident:
"Whilst Friends of Riverside give a cautious welcome to the Cabinet's proposed revision to the A338-Wessex Fields scheme, can the Cabinet please explain how members of the public are expected to trust in the objectivity of a review carried out in its entirety by officers of the application team, whilst ignoring the voice of those officers who vigorously objected?"
Response by Councillor Vikki Slade (Leader of the Council):
“Thank you for your question. I can confirm that the decision to review the project was taken by Cabinet members. The evidence provided by officers was reviewed and tested by Cabinet members. (AMEND) The new proposals as outlined in the Cabinet Report were suggested and agreed by Cabinet members, and support the priorities of the new Council. I would like to remind you that officers are apolitical and objective, and provide recommendations to Council members for their consideration when making their decisions”.
Public Question from Pauline Riggs, local resident:
“There is a distinct lack of public toilets in the Bournemouth area and considering that it is a tourist destination, it is detrimental to visitors who are not familiar with the area.
My question is: Why haven't our public toilets be reinstated and improved and why isn't more provision being made for the visitors and residents comfort.
Toilets in shops and restaurants are not sufficient and visitors who are unfamiliar with the town have to find them. They are particularly lacking around the Bournemouth gardens and have been closed at, for example, Cemetery Junction, Winton and other minor shopping areas causing residents discomfort.”
Response by Councillor Dr Felicity Rice (Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change)
BCP Council has a commitment to making the area welcoming to all. In Bournemouth town centre we have a key facility in Lower Gardens which is attended at peak times and also stays open later to accommodate events such as the Air Festival and Christmas Tree Wonderland.
It also houses a ‘Changing Places’ facility as it was recognised that people with learning disabilities, as well as people with other physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis often need extra amenities to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably.
The Lower Gardens site is complemented by facilities at Glen Fern Road car park, Richmond Gardens Car Park and the many cafes, shops and restaurants that have facilities for their customers. Outside of the town centre there are facilities at Boscombe Bus Station, Leslie Road Car Park (Winton), Seabourne Road (opposite Pokesdown for Boscombe station), Millhams Road (Kinson), Southbourne Crossroads and in the parks at Redhill, Fisherman’s Walk and Wick. There are also sites in Westbourne (Milburn Road), Hengistbury Head, and across the overcliff areas (West Overcliff, East Overcliff and Fisherman’s Overcliff).
Seafront Services manage 24 sites along the Poole and Bournemouth seafront, all serviced and cleaned by in-house staff. The number of sites has not decreased over the past 12 years (it has increased by 1 site at Durley back in 2014) and investment in these sites has continued whenever possible. Over the winter of 2018/19 renovations to the toilets in Bournemouth’s Pier Approach were undertaken as part of a redevelopment scheme. This site is the busiest on the combined seafront and the enhanced facilities have made an improvement for the 6 million day visitors they welcome to the seafront each year.
We will be looking at toilet facilities across the whole of the BCP area at a later date.
Statement from Angela Pooley, local resident:
The current Local Plan Policy CS7 Bournemouth Town Centre states
“Bournemouth Town Centre, will be: the most appropriate location in the Borough for development consisting of retail, cultural, leisure and business uses”
ThereforeEast Dorset Friends of the Earth call on BCP Council to withdraw planning permission for the Wessex Fields site immediately, and to cease development (within the limits of existing signed contracts), in order to minimise the potential costs to Council Tax Payers of having to abandon the scheme at a later date or face legal action by Client Earth for failing to achieve its Climate Emergency Targets.
Statement from Wendy Sharp (Chairman of the Holdenhurst Village Parish Meeting), in relation to Wessex Fields Development Site:
Holdenhurst Village Parish Meeting:
Ø applauds BCP for listening to Residents;
Ø applauds BCP’s determination to tackle Climate Change emergency;
Ø approves plans for Wessex Water connection (1.1);
Ø wishes to see 1.2 continued directly to the BACK of RBH to form designated access/egress and land reserved for future hospital use;
Ø approves aspirations for sustainable transport, but notes: congestion/fly-parking over extensive local area severe, despite present active travel plans for all local businesses. Effective schemes must be implemented before any development takes place.
Ø Abuse of planning system to be stopped. See 3: land purchased speculatively and 8: 1.1. commenced prior to grant of planning permission. Point 22 has been ignored - tree work and excavation commenced before management schemes agreed
Ø Financial implications must not dictate development. No Public money should be spent on a bad scheme.
Ø 26: “negative outcomes” from road scheme for Residents of Retired Nurses National Home will be dwarfed by impact to be created by future development of adjacent multi-storey office blocks.
Ø 31: “unpopular” process was a sham of misinformation, unanswered concerns and questionable practices. Unprecedented response of 2,500 objections ignored by Council.
Ø 34: “severe weather events” and “flooding” increase with climate change. Scheme is car-centric, spans flood plains and will further stress the area with future development. Disseminate and manage present traffic now and reserve any future growth for RBH.
Ø It is noted that “contributors” to report do not include officers who have reservations about the scheme and future development.
Our children should not have to strike to beg for a future for themselves and their children. Climate Change is accelerating fast. We must take decisive action now. Please act to remove Phase 2 and its associated over-development entirely.
Statement read out by the Monitoring Officer on behalf of Joan Richards, local resident:
At your OSB meeting on 23 September, those who were on the former Bournemouth Council were clearly giving no mind to the Climate Emergency declared by BCP on 16th July, as they sought to continue favouring the A338 Wessex Fields Development Plan, with the estimated 1200 more cars. The initial plans send all this traffic back to the super-congested Cooper Dean Roundabout, and the subsequent relief road, for which they want to build on the Green Belt and Holdenhurst Conservation area, is not planned for a further 10 years. So much for the Climate Emergency declaration.
The Leader thanked the public for their statements and questions.