FILL IN MY "BUILD BOURNEMOUTH BACK" SURVEY
Bournemouth West MP, The Rt Hon Sir Conor Burns, has met Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove in the Department to discuss his campaign to rejuvenate Bournemouth town centre. Making the case for change, Burns told Mr Gove of the thousands of residents who have returned his survey expressing concern at the way the town was going. The Secretary of State supported Burns’ town-wide call for solutions from local people and stakeholders. Sir Conor also highlighted the great work of the Echo in highlighting the need for action.
Responses to Conor Burns’ recent parliamentary survey came back in their droves, indicating that residents had noticed a gradual decline in the town centre over recent years. According to the local MP, respondents were adamant that the local BCP Council had not been doing enough to maintain the town centre as well as the wider area be it picking up litter, pulling out weeds, cleaning off graffiti or enforcing anti-social behaviour as well as aggressive begging. Burns went on to highlight the multitude of empty units on the high street, as well as the declining footfall and poor economic performance experienced by businesses that had stayed loyal to the area.
With the town in dire need of answers, Conor Burns this week launched his campaign to “Build Back Bournemouth”. The campaign involves a town-wide call to action, as residents and stakeholders are invited to contribute towards a plan to save our town centre. Every household in the constituency has been sent a physical survey to have their say, whilst an online survey (available here) has been shared widely across social media by the Bournemouth West MP. In addition, Burns has offered to meet stakeholders across the town to pinpoint and remove any barriers to prosperity.
Having explained his plan to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove welcomed Burns’ proposal to consult with the community, and promised to give consideration to any recommendations brought forward by local people. Mr Gove offered to meet again with Mr Burns as ideas come in and to support this initiative in any way he could.
Sir Conor said, “The message from local people is that BCP has not been focusing on the fundamentals. Our area can do so much better than we are not. This is an incredible place to live, work and rest. But our town centre in particular lets us and the area down. I don’t want to turn the clock back but I do want to get ideas as to how we can reimagine our town centre in changed times and give it new life. At the end of the day the town doesn’t belong to the Council. It is our town. I want us to work together regardless of political opinion to build Bournemouth back.”
