Friends fight to save BCCA from demolition (From Bournemouth Echo)

A last desperate attempt from a desperate group of Council haters.
The BCCA is a derelict eye sore that wasn't viable years ago and wouldn't be viable again now whatever the protesters say.
The simple fact remains that the approved plans for the site are the best way forward, providing a community centre and affordable homes (which the area is crying out for) and at minimal cost to the tax payers of Bournemouth. A definite win win for the area.

Vexatious litigants comes to mind; unfortunately I don't see this latest attempt to stall the council's plans being the last. They will go on and on. With £2million to be spent on the restoration of the Shelley Theatre over the next 5 years, isn't that enough arts funding for the area?

As a resident whose property backs onto the BCCA site, I'd like to present an alternative viewpoint in this ongoing debate. I remember the BCCA in its heyday, and the noise nuisance of percussion instruments that often emanated from the main building, not to mention the noise from both the human and vehicular traffic that came and went during the course of an evening. I could go on...As far as I'm concerned I'll be glad to see the day when the demolition crew arrive. Friends of BCCA it's over, let's move on.

The Friends of the BCCA dont hate the council, they love Boscombe. I want the council to stop destroying Boscombe by building more rabbit hutch size homes in order to house a few (un)fortunate people whilst systematically destroying Boscombe's heritage. The BCCA was gifted to Boscombe by the Shelley family and what right does the council have to sell it for a relatively tiny amount of money? If allowed, Boscombe will be left with a few more nondescript homes and a tiny part of the original listed BCCA site which the council cannot legally bulldoze.

The BCCA will be saved , fantastic

Unfortunate people, who might they be
then? Young couples wanting a home
to bring up a family.

It is a great shame that residents of Boscombe are having to take their elected representatives to Court. Everyone I have spoken to in the area is greatly opposed to the demolition. When the Council talk about a hub they mean an area where they can house leaflets for events going on elsewhere. The space they intend to leave is too small for anything else. Lovely that Shelley Theatre is getting restored, but wasnt that the deal for getting those hideous flats tacked on to the side of the building? Also Shelley Manor is near the beach front. This is the area of Boscombe that the Councillors are happy to invest in. Central Boscombe where the BCCA is situated gets nothing while money is spent near the beach again? There were 938 objections to the councils plans and only 2 in favour. These rabbit hutch houses will not have any impact on my experience of living in Boscombe, but having a vibrant arts, education and community centre on my doorstep would be amazing. It would attract people into the area to use it and give amenities to an area that has no community centre at all!

What Splisha means I think by (un)fortunate is that these are 2 bed properties so not suitable for growing families. It is not clear how someone who buys one of these homes can sell it so they could end up trapped there. Without any proper family facilities in Boscombe you are importing 11 families to a problem area. How on earth is that even scratching the surface of Boscombes problems. How does Jane Kelly know that they will be bought by families and not end up on the rental market where we are already overflowing with 2 bed properties. I think they know that this will not work and it is just a sell off of Community land for some private developers benefit.

SFF wrote:
What Splisha means I think by (un)fortunate is that these are 2 bed properties so not suitable for growing families. It is not clear how someone who buys one of these homes can sell it so they could end up trapped there. Without any proper family facilities in Boscombe you are importing 11 families to a problem area. How on earth is that even scratching the surface of Boscombes problems. How does Jane Kelly know that they will be bought by families and not end up on the rental market where we are already overflowing with 2 bed properties. I think they know that this will not work and it is just a sell off of Community land for some private developers benefit.

So I guess the children's centre, numerous parks, football pitches, cricket ground, etc aren't family facilities?

Boscombe needs more families and a crackdown on the people who live there and cause anti-social problems. The problem in Boscombe is a minority group of people who have made lifestyle choices that spill out into the street and cause anti-social behaviour. If there's going to be any property on this land it needs to be for families not more bedsits to house the waifs and strays.

As for Boscombe overflowing with 2 bed properties it may have plenty of 2 bed properties but not many of a decent size. I've recently moved and finding a 2 double bedroom flat was a nightmare! If these flats are a generous size 2 bed they'll be offering something that's currently hard to get.

Splisha wrote:
The Friends of the BCCA dont hate the council, they love Boscombe. I want the council to stop destroying Boscombe by building more rabbit hutch size homes in order to house a few (un)fortunate people whilst systematically destroying Boscombe's heritage. The BCCA was gifted to Boscombe by the Shelley family and what right does the council have to sell it for a relatively tiny amount of money? If allowed, Boscombe will be left with a few more nondescript homes and a tiny part of the original listed BCCA site which the council cannot legally bulldoze.

In other words its a bit like going on ebay and selling your unwanted old birthday presents in order to raise funds to buy something better, and no one ever does that. Dont they?

So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

There are plenty of other facilities in the Boscombe area that serve the people. The BCCA is a derelict dump that has outlived it's purpose and it's high time the naysayers and trouble makers cleared off and found another cause for their anti-establishment agenda.
Boscombe needs family homes, not another expensive to maintain and under used waste of space.

Yes Bosc does need family homes but they need to be a decent 2 bed or 3 bed.Too many family homes in the area are either turned into HMO or ripped down to build 2 bed flats (where one of the bedrooms would have been called a box room years ago due to its size). They thing that worries me is that they keep talkig about new builds in the area but never talk about the infrastucture of the area being able to handle the ectra people.

The Renegade Master wrote:

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

There are plenty of other facilities in the Boscombe area that serve the people. The BCCA is a derelict dump that has outlived it's purpose and it's high time the naysayers and trouble makers cleared off and found another cause for their anti-establishment agenda.
Boscombe needs family homes, not another expensive to maintain and under used waste of space.

Really?
Thats most interesting seeing as the council themselves 'derelicted' the building... well they tried with sabotage..
The building is NOT derelict RENEGADE MASTER ... An independant surveyor surveyed the building and it is catagorically NOT derelict... you soiund like you work for the COUNCIL with your slurs on a community asset....

But your reply still doesn't answer ANY of the questions i posed now does it?

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

Ive lived in Boscombe 20 years and I can barely remember the PEOPLE of Boscombe ever using it. Now that its being threatened people want to save it. So why didnt they use it all this time? I only ever went there once, when the library was being rebuilt. Im sure the money from the sale can be put to much worthier and established community projects rather than sentimentalism.

And why are you concerned about a theatre? Theres one a couple of hundred yards down the road and I think the people of Boscombe have more pressing issues than a second theatre.

s-pb2 wrote:

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

Ive lived in Boscombe 20 years and I can barely remember the PEOPLE of Boscombe ever using it. Now that its being threatened people want to save it. So why didnt they use it all this time? I only ever went there once, when the library was being rebuilt. Im sure the money from the sale can be put to much worthier and established community projects rather than sentimentalism.

And why are you concerned about a theatre? Theres one a couple of hundred yards down the road and I think the people of Boscombe have more pressing issues than a second theatre.

I must admit with the facility having been unused for a number of years it is hard to see it as an essential part of the community. It is true the council are apt to engineer circumstances to make the case for what what they want to do whether the public agree or not, but lets be honest this isn't the public (you will often respond on how the question is asked) but a pressure group apparently with political motives.
-
These are houses not flats yes they will be small but how else could they be affordable for the "hard working families" they are no doubt intended for.
-
I really think it is time we moved on from the nostalgia and sentiment, the battle has been lost to retain the BCCA, concentrating on the Shelley theatre seems now to make most sense to create new facilities that will hopefully be well used.

s-pb2 wrote:

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

Ive lived in Boscombe 20 years and I can barely remember the PEOPLE of Boscombe ever using it. Now that its being threatened people want to save it. So why didnt they use it all this time? I only ever went there once, when the library was being rebuilt. Im sure the money from the sale can be put to much worthier and established community projects rather than sentimentalism.

And why are you concerned about a theatre? Theres one a couple of hundred yards down the road and I think the people of Boscombe have more pressing issues than a second theatre.

Is the money being put to better use? what will it be spent on? who are the builders who will make profit on YOUR COMMUNITY ASSET?
The BCCA was built for the people so maybe the people should just go in and sell small plots as they see fit and make a profit they keep for themselves just as the copuncil are doing... after all the building was GIFTED to the PEOPLE so maybe the people should profit for a change?
& how are you so sure the council will put the moiney its just made off the people to good use? They don't usually!!

muddeeewench wrote:

s-pb2 wrote:

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

Ive lived in Boscombe 20 years and I can barely remember the PEOPLE of Boscombe ever using it. Now that its being threatened people want to save it. So why didnt they use it all this time? I only ever went there once, when the library was being rebuilt. Im sure the money from the sale can be put to much worthier and established community projects rather than sentimentalism.

And why are you concerned about a theatre? Theres one a couple of hundred yards down the road and I think the people of Boscombe have more pressing issues than a second theatre.

Is the money being put to better use? what will it be spent on? who are the builders who will make profit on YOUR COMMUNITY ASSET?
The BCCA was built for the people so maybe the people should just go in and sell small plots as they see fit and make a profit they keep for themselves just as the copuncil are doing... after all the building was GIFTED to the PEOPLE so maybe the people should profit for a change?
& how are you so sure the council will put the moiney its just made off the people to good use? They don't usually!!

No its not MY community asset, because living in Boscombe 20 years or so, ive only used it once.

You really need to move on from this sentimental nonsense about the building being a gift to the people. Like I said, the people have neglected this gift for a very very long time. All the council are doing is what we all do with unused gifts, sell them.

As for putting the money to good use, you obviously havent seen the work adult social care and childrens social care have done in Boscombe helping its residents with their basic living needs. The council are increasing their budgets in these areas to help the vulnerable, particularly in Boscombe. Now I think that is far more worthwhile spending of council money then an expensive unused facility.

muddeeewench wrote:

s-pb2 wrote:

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

Ive lived in Boscombe 20 years and I can barely remember the PEOPLE of Boscombe ever using it. Now that its being threatened people want to save it. So why didnt they use it all this time? I only ever went there once, when the library was being rebuilt. Im sure the money from the sale can be put to much worthier and established community projects rather than sentimentalism.

And why are you concerned about a theatre? Theres one a couple of hundred yards down the road and I think the people of Boscombe have more pressing issues than a second theatre.

Is the money being put to better use? what will it be spent on? who are the builders who will make profit on YOUR COMMUNITY ASSET?
The BCCA was built for the people so maybe the people should just go in and sell small plots as they see fit and make a profit they keep for themselves just as the copuncil are doing... after all the building was GIFTED to the PEOPLE so maybe the people should profit for a change?
& how are you so sure the council will put the moiney its just made off the people to good use? They don't usually!!

No its not MY community asset, because living in Boscombe 20 years or so, ive only used it once.

You really need to move on from this sentimental nonsense about the building being a gift to the people. Like I said, the people have neglected this gift for a very very long time. All the council are doing is what we all do with unused gifts, sell them.

As for putting the money to good use, you obviously havent seen the work adult social care and childrens social care have done in Boscombe helping its residents with their basic living needs. The council are increasing their budgets in these areas to help the vulnerable, particularly in Boscombe. Now I think that is far more worthwhile spending of council money then an expensive unused facility.

Its FACT not sentimental nonsence.
I live in Boscombe and we are yet to see any benefits for the community in social care.

I moved to Boscombe 40 years ago. My children were Christened in the same Boscombe Church their Great Grandfather was, a hundred years earlier. I had family living in the area from at least 1802. I have never used this establishment and certainly don't ever remember a single event happening there that was well known by the Boscombe community I lived in. The last use of it before it shut was (I believe), as place for dance lessons and also as a meeting place for people who attended Cocaine Anonymous to go to. Hardly thriving then was it. If there are so many uses to be made of it, what have the proposed users been doing these last five years? Sitting on their thumbs? Why is it only in this place that the Arts and Media can set up shop and survive? If there is so much talent around they would be at it now not waiting for this building to re-open surely? It does seem to me that it is a cause to be used by certain elements of the community that wish to have some sort of 'collective' of the legalise drugs/benefits are your right even if you have never worked/lets all be right on brothers and sisters/ Wolfie Smith wannabes.

muddeeewench wrote:

The Renegade Master wrote:

muddeeewench wrote:
So let's see if I've got this straight....
The BCCA was built as a place of learning and education for the people and children and future generations of Boscombe. The Boscombe Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) was built in 1878, and was originally named the Boscombe British School. Bournemouth Council plan to demolish a building that was founded by Percy Florence Shelly and given to Bournemouth as a place of learning in 1903.

Bournemouth Council and Bournemouth 2026 want to tear it down and build houses on the land.

Hmm let me think... so if it was GIFTED in a COVENANT to the people, WHY are the council SELLING YOUR asset and will make a profit on it? what do the people of Boscombe get in return for taking their building?

The flats will be for sale?
Who in these times can afford a mortgage?
Where does the money go then?
Will it be divided equally between the residents of Boscombe?

Your future generations obv don't count then because they are NOT replacing a perfectly good solid building(with a working theatre amongst its attributes) with anything you may use.

THIS BUILDING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE NOT THE COUNCIL TO PLUNDER AS USUAL.

There are plenty of other facilities in the Boscombe area that serve the people. The BCCA is a derelict dump that has outlived it's purpose and it's high time the naysayers and trouble makers cleared off and found another cause for their anti-establishment agenda.
Boscombe needs family homes, not another expensive to maintain and under used waste of space.

Really?
Thats most interesting seeing as the council themselves 'derelicted' the building... well they tried with sabotage..
The building is NOT derelict RENEGADE MASTER ... An independant surveyor surveyed the building and it is catagorically NOT derelict... you soiund like you work for the COUNCIL with your slurs on a community asset....

But your reply still doesn't answer ANY of the questions i posed now does it?

I disagree with you so I must be working for the Council! Pathetic reply.
The BCCA is NOT a community asset, it's a dilapidated dump. It got into that state of disrepair partly because of vandalism and the fact that it's use DID NOT justify the huge outlay of local tax payers money to keep in tip top condition.
Oh and you clearly don't know what derelict actually means. Please consult a dictionary.

muddeeewench wrote:
Its FACT not sentimental nonsence.
I live in Boscombe and we are yet to see any benefits for the community in social care.

I work for an organisation which helps those who are vulnerable and have worked in conjunction with council services and I have seen the work that has been done. So I can very safely tell you that FACT the community are getting benefits from the council services.

ab8 wrote:
I moved to Boscombe 40 years ago. My children were Christened in the same Boscombe Church their Great Grandfather was, a hundred years earlier. I had family living in the area from at least 1802. I have never used this establishment and certainly don't ever remember a single event happening there that was well known by the Boscombe community I lived in. The last use of it before it shut was (I believe), as place for dance lessons and also as a meeting place for people who attended Cocaine Anonymous to go to. Hardly thriving then was it. If there are so many uses to be made of it, what have the proposed users been doing these last five years? Sitting on their thumbs? Why is it only in this place that the Arts and Media can set up shop and survive? If there is so much talent around they would be at it now not waiting for this building to re-open surely? It does seem to me that it is a cause to be used by certain elements of the community that wish to have some sort of 'collective' of the legalise drugs/benefits are your right even if you have never worked/lets all be right on brothers and sisters/ Wolfie Smith wannabes.

Your sir/madam have 20 years more local experience than me, but we have reached the same conclusion. A comment well made.

The Renegade Master wrote:
A last desperate attempt from a desperate group of Council haters.
The BCCA is a derelict eye sore that wasn't viable years ago and wouldn't be viable again now whatever the protesters say.
The simple fact remains that the approved plans for the site are the best way forward, providing a community centre and affordable homes (which the area is crying out for) and at minimal cost to the tax payers of Bournemouth. A definite win win for the area.

@ the renegade master , im guessing you work for the council. i used to use the center all the time it was affordable and provided activities for all age groups , although good homes for new family's is desired i fear that wont be the case , the homes will most likely be given to scag head scum degrading boscombe even further. why cant the building be used for the original purpose such as adult learning courses , drama and yoga lessons , art classes etc . i just think its a waste to turn it into houses

Crikey it seems the whole of Bournemouth 2026 are posting on here! Someone's cage must have been rattled!

Children in Boscombe can play sport I am told. Numerous parks? Yes there is Kings Park, large chunk given for football training, third earmarked for an ice rink.

What if your child isn't into sport? What if they are intimidated by large gangs of teenagers that hangout in the parks and groups of druggies and alcoholics with dogs off leads?

What if it is raining?

Why are other areas allowed to have indoor community facilities but the Council are completely against this in Boscombe? What do tourists do in Boscombe when it rains?

Why are they spending £400000 to demolish the site when a quarter of that could be used to undo the damage they themselves caused?

Again how do these families sell on the houses if they have more babies? Are they protected by a covenant? The council ignores covenants it has already proved that. So in a few years they will most likely be buy to lets. After all with no safe community facilities in Boscombe who would want to buy here? I must have been mad. But then I believed the Council when they said they were regenerating the area, that was 7 years ago. I know better now.

SFF wrote:
Crikey it seems the whole of Bournemouth 2026 are posting on here! Someone's cage must have been rattled!

Children in Boscombe can play sport I am told. Numerous parks? Yes there is Kings Park, large chunk given for football training, third earmarked for an ice rink.

What if your child isn't into sport? What if they are intimidated by large gangs of teenagers that hangout in the parks and groups of druggies and alcoholics with dogs off leads?

What if it is raining?

Why are other areas allowed to have indoor community facilities but the Council are completely against this in Boscombe? What do tourists do in Boscombe when it rains?

Why are they spending £400000 to demolish the site when a quarter of that could be used to undo the damage they themselves caused?

Again how do these families sell on the houses if they have more babies? Are they protected by a covenant? The council ignores covenants it has already proved that. So in a few years they will most likely be buy to lets. After all with no safe community facilities in Boscombe who would want to buy here? I must have been mad. But then I believed the Council when they said they were regenerating the area, that was 7 years ago. I know better now.

If it was raining you weren't a lazy parent you could get on one bus from the centre of Boscombe and take your child to Littledown although if they don't like sport perhaps that's not a good idea. If they're younger children they could go to the children's centre (that I previously mentioned but you ignored) - we have 2 in Boscombe & Springbourne and they run all sorts of activities as well as having general toys to play with.
If your child really doesn't like to get off their bottom and move at all how about a quick trip to Boscombe library to collect some books for them to read? Then they can sit comfortably and indulge their mind and stretch their imagination.

I don't know what facilities you think are essential to bring up children but actually they don't need loads of fancy things to entertain them. I grew up in a rural area as a child - we went to the library once a week to get books, I went to a swimming class once a week in the evening, ballet or gym once a week (you can learn assorted dance classes in Boscombe) and spent the rest of my time playing out on my road on my bike until it got dark when I had to come in. You can do all those things in Boscombe and you've got plenty of parks as well a luxury I didn't have growing up! I've turned out into a graduate with a good job (I work for a charity based in wider Dorset not Bournemouth 2026) who has a varied social life and plenty of friends. Kids don't need LOADS of facilities to entertain them they just need their parents to be a bit less lazy when it comes to occupying them.

rozmister wrote:

SFF wrote:
Crikey it seems the whole of Bournemouth 2026 are posting on here! Someone's cage must have been rattled!

Children in Boscombe can play sport I am told. Numerous parks? Yes there is Kings Park, large chunk given for football training, third earmarked for an ice rink.

What if your child isn't into sport? What if they are intimidated by large gangs of teenagers that hangout in the parks and groups of druggies and alcoholics with dogs off leads?

What if it is raining?

Why are other areas allowed to have indoor community facilities but the Council are completely against this in Boscombe? What do tourists do in Boscombe when it rains?

Why are they spending £400000 to demolish the site when a quarter of that could be used to undo the damage they themselves caused?

Again how do these families sell on the houses if they have more babies? Are they protected by a covenant? The council ignores covenants it has already proved that. So in a few years they will most likely be buy to lets. After all with no safe community facilities in Boscombe who would want to buy here? I must have been mad. But then I believed the Council when they said they were regenerating the area, that was 7 years ago. I know better now.

If it was raining you weren't a lazy parent you could get on one bus from the centre of Boscombe and take your child to Littledown although if they don't like sport perhaps that's not a good idea. If they're younger children they could go to the children's centre (that I previously mentioned but you ignored) - we have 2 in Boscombe & Springbourne and they run all sorts of activities as well as having general toys to play with.
If your child really doesn't like to get off their bottom and move at all how about a quick trip to Boscombe library to collect some books for them to read? Then they can sit comfortably and indulge their mind and stretch their imagination.

I don't know what facilities you think are essential to bring up children but actually they don't need loads of fancy things to entertain them. I grew up in a rural area as a child - we went to the library once a week to get books, I went to a swimming class once a week in the evening, ballet or gym once a week (you can learn assorted dance classes in Boscombe) and spent the rest of my time playing out on my road on my bike until it got dark when I had to come in. You can do all those things in Boscombe and you've got plenty of parks as well a luxury I didn't have growing up! I've turned out into a graduate with a good job (I work for a charity based in wider Dorset not Bournemouth 2026) who has a varied social life and plenty of friends. Kids don't need LOADS of facilities to entertain them they just need their parents to be a bit less lazy when it comes to occupying them.

Well said rozmister. Also, you could take them to the beach! Rain or shine, it's a lovely place!

Did Jane Kelly mention that the independent survey commissioned at a cost of £10,000 is not independent, being carried out by the former manager of the Bourne spring centre, and its only available online and the survey has glitches meaning it is not viable. Also the research has already been done by at least 2 independent people.Typical council misdirection tactics.

Well this is interesting. So a few new voices have joined this debate. It seems that now community centres are a thing of the past, an unwanted gift to be sold on for profit. That in 40 years no one can remember anything good happening on this site. Despite it being an incredibly vibrant children's theatre headed by Dame Sybil Thorndyke for many years since 1963, before that it was the Boscombe school. Even in its present incarnation it brought perhaps 2 of the most well known theatre charities to bloom, vita nova and the butterfly foundation, who have since unhsppily been occupying the inadequate Bournespring centre in Springbourne. Anyone who says there is no use for a 23 room Victorian School building in good state of repair, in such a seriously deprived area has no capacity for imagination. Do you remember the disabled theatre group that operated here or Dorset books for the blind, all of them unceremoniously evicted by a cynical and greedy council. Did our current mayor of Bournemouth cllr Stanley-Watts not march to try and get this centre reopened? The tone of some of these posts are very suspect. Could it be that as national attention gets drawn to this situation, the council will get desperate in a bid to cover their tracks. This whole episode with the Bcca is highly suspect, I don't believe this is for the regeneration of the area. Otherwise they would have begun regenerating by using this site as a community and arts centre as many many successful examples of regeneration have done. The council have this research so they are deliberately ignoring it. If the 10 houses are essential there are several other sites they could use with no community impact. In other words we could have the best of both worlds, more houses and a working community resource. How come if you ring the council and ask if Bournemouth 2026 land trust have any plans to build more houses, we are good no. Any land trust worth its salt would use the initial stock as a stepping stone to build many houses. So it too seems as if Bournemouth 2026, initially set up as a research group by the council, and now a charity with councillors and council employees on the board, is only there to see to the destruction of this site. Why the council is so keen to destroy this site is beyond me, they are a rich council sitting on 100 million pounds of reserves, and the bournemouth area has a wealth of creative and social entrepreneurs who could easily see this site operating properly, not to mention a wealth of arts funding and Eu funding available. Something just doesn't add up here.

Tom 'Boscombe' Jones wrote:
Well this is interesting. So a few new voices have joined this debate. It seems that now community centres are a thing of the past, an unwanted gift to be sold on for profit. That in 40 years no one can remember anything good happening on this site. Despite it being an incredibly vibrant children's theatre headed by Dame Sybil Thorndyke for many years since 1963, before that it was the Boscombe school. Even in its present incarnation it brought perhaps 2 of the most well known theatre charities to bloom, vita nova and the butterfly foundation, who have since unhsppily been occupying the inadequate Bournespring centre in Springbourne. Anyone who says there is no use for a 23 room Victorian School building in good state of repair, in such a seriously deprived area has no capacity for imagination. Do you remember the disabled theatre group that operated here or Dorset books for the blind, all of them unceremoniously evicted by a cynical and greedy council. Did our current mayor of Bournemouth cllr Stanley-Watts not march to try and get this centre reopened? The tone of some of these posts are very suspect. Could it be that as national attention gets drawn to this situation, the council will get desperate in a bid to cover their tracks. This whole episode with the Bcca is highly suspect, I don't believe this is for the regeneration of the area. Otherwise they would have begun regenerating by using this site as a community and arts centre as many many successful examples of regeneration have done. The council have this research so they are deliberately ignoring it. If the 10 houses are essential there are several other sites they could use with no community impact. In other words we could have the best of both worlds, more houses and a working community resource. How come if you ring the council and ask if Bournemouth 2026 land trust have any plans to build more houses, we are good no. Any land trust worth its salt would use the initial stock as a stepping stone to build many houses. So it too seems as if Bournemouth 2026, initially set up as a research group by the council, and now a charity with councillors and council employees on the board, is only there to see to the destruction of this site. Why the council is so keen to destroy this site is beyond me, they are a rich council sitting on 100 million pounds of reserves, and the bournemouth area has a wealth of creative and social entrepreneurs who could easily see this site operating properly, not to mention a wealth of arts funding and Eu funding available. Something just doesn't add up here.

There is definitely not a wealth of arts funding available. Just over two years ago arts organisations up and down the country went under or had to massively remodel due to the massive cuts delivered by local councils to their arts budgets and the Arts council. If you've found a wealthy of arts funding it's a miracle because the money doesn't exist anymore!

The well established Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra had to take massive cuts in 2011 and they are very successful at what they do. It would be harder to secure funding for an Arts centre that previously didn't see the footfall necessary to keep it going.

I'm sure there were some very successful niche Arts group there but the fact is a large proportion of the local community weren't utilising the centre and the council can't fund the centre if it only reaches a few. Both Vita Nova & The Butterfly Foundation do amazing work and I really hope they find a suitable venue but I'm not sure the BCCA, in it's current form, is a long term viable option.

Leaving three rooms does seem a bit extreme though - maybe 6 rooms and one less house?

ha ha there we have it! If you want rainy days activities in Boscombe get on a bus and go elsewhere! Well done 2026 supporter for that admission that there is nothing for teenagers to do in Central Boscombe. Actually I work so I am looking for activities for my teenager to do in a very deprived area which he can safely walk to, rather than spending the precious little free time I have driving him about to activities. Creative activities, not sport or the beach. Creative activities that could help him get a job in creative industries. But thanks for the advice that he can hang out in the park or the beach. If there were creative activities in my area I would pay for him to go to them. That is because I work, pay council tax and pay for my sons activities all by my self. I am sure I am not the only single working parent in Boscombe. I am sure there are many working families in Boscombe who would pay for activities. The council calls the pub a community centre, well I don't want my son going there thanks. I want reasonably priced educational afterschool activities within walking distance from my house. You can go on and on about arts funding blah blah blah, but I know loads of people round here who would pay for decent afterschool activities for their kids. That means business opportunities surely! The Community dont want the Council to fund the BCCA they just dont want it given away when there are businesses that want to use it and provide low cost activities for residents and jobs.

ha ha indeed, a 'helicopter' mum who wants her little lad to have all she wants for him and on her doorstep too. How many other tax paying etc, etc, etc...parents spend their time taking their children to and from activities, lot's I'm sure and without whinging on about it. Anyway, If he's a teenager he should be branching out on his own so as to become untied from apron strings, not smothered! Would love to see a survey from teenagers in Boscombe as to whether they want Mum/Dad arranging their free time for them! Why should other tax payers pay for you to have the luxury of expensively duplicated facilities on your doorstep that can be easily accessed by a short bus/car journey?

SFF wrote:
ha ha there we have it! If you want rainy days activities in Boscombe get on a bus and go elsewhere! Well done 2026 supporter for that admission that there is nothing for teenagers to do in Central Boscombe. Actually I work so I am looking for activities for my teenager to do in a very deprived area which he can safely walk to, rather than spending the precious little free time I have driving him about to activities. Creative activities, not sport or the beach. Creative activities that could help him get a job in creative industries. But thanks for the advice that he can hang out in the park or the beach. If there were creative activities in my area I would pay for him to go to them. That is because I work, pay council tax and pay for my sons activities all by my self. I am sure I am not the only single working parent in Boscombe. I am sure there are many working families in Boscombe who would pay for activities. The council calls the pub a community centre, well I don't want my son going there thanks. I want reasonably priced educational afterschool activities within walking distance from my house. You can go on and on about arts funding blah blah blah, but I know loads of people round here who would pay for decent afterschool activities for their kids. That means business opportunities surely! The Community dont want the Council to fund the BCCA they just dont want it given away when there are businesses that want to use it and provide low cost activities for residents and jobs.

I used to walk three miles to catch the bus to school as a teenager and when I wanted to go shopping in the nearest town (45 minutes away) I used to get dropped to the bus stop and get the bus. If your child is a teenager why don't you give him a couple of quid and let him ride the bus alone!

I'm talking about arts funding BECAUSE a previous poster mentioned it. They didn't say "the BCCA will be self-funding and sufficient" they said "not to mention a wealth of arts funding and Eu funding available". I've worked in the arts sector within the last 24 months and when I was there organisations were going under so I'm pretty sceptical that this 'wealth of funding' exists. I suppose it's easier for you to go blah blah blah and ignore a valid point than acknowledge that there's people on here, who are obviously BCCA supporters and involved in the campaign to reopen it, who plan to use funding that is extremely hard to obtain these days to do so. Has the BCCA had a confirmation of funding from the Arts Organisation? Or the EU? Or are some of the BCCA supporters planning to run it as a self sufficient self funding organisation and others as an EU and Arts funded organisation?

I've never heard the council call the pub a community centre but if they do it's pretty concerning. Obviously a pub is not an appropriate place for a child or a teenager...although some teenagers I know might say otherwise ;)

how dare you be so insulting. You have absolutely no right to comment on how I parent my child. You are a nasty low life troll. Single working parent do you know what that means? It means that when other parents are able to pick their kids up from school and take them to activities, I am still at work. Perhaps I should quit my job, go on benefits so I have all the time to travel to other parts of the borough on the bus. If more Boscombe parents took notice of what their kids do in their spare time they wouldnt be causing so much trouble, vandalism, grafitti in the area. Stuff which causes all tax payers grief. You go to the lovely parks and watch the kids hang out with the drug dealers. Mind you, by the sound of it you most likely encourage your child to do just that. Saves you from having to take responsibility for looking after them.

The above comment was for Verity Vita. This is for Rozmister. I am commenting that I have money to pay for activities in our area. There are lots of kids round here just hanging out and getting into trouble. The friends of the BCCA put together a self sustaining business plan but were deliberately scuppered by the council when it came to securing the funding.
Talking about how I get my son to activities outside the area is really not the point. The fact is I am a responsible parent. Many families round here do not care what their kids get up to and it shows. That means that normal kids who aren't part of gangs find the streets pretty no go round here after a certain time.
Now I don't know what kind of area you lived in when you were dropped at the bus stop, but it is not uncommon for my road to have drunks, druggies and prostitutes. They dont even bother us. The gangs of feral kids do though.

As for the funding question. The council have secured £400K for the creative 'hub' which is so small it can really only be used to hold leaflets. For a quarter of that funding the community could have it put back to use. They are actually spending far more taxpayers money only to benefit 11 families with the rest of the community left with nothing.

SFF wrote:
The above comment was for Verity Vita. This is for Rozmister. I am commenting that I have money to pay for activities in our area. There are lots of kids round here just hanging out and getting into trouble. The friends of the BCCA put together a self sustaining business plan but were deliberately scuppered by the council when it came to securing the funding.
Talking about how I get my son to activities outside the area is really not the point. The fact is I am a responsible parent. Many families round here do not care what their kids get up to and it shows. That means that normal kids who aren't part of gangs find the streets pretty no go round here after a certain time.
Now I don't know what kind of area you lived in when you were dropped at the bus stop, but it is not uncommon for my road to have drunks, druggies and prostitutes. They dont even bother us. The gangs of feral kids do though.

I've lived in Boscombe, mainly by the Crescent, for three years and never encountered a truly feral kid but I do understand that kids are a lot crueler to other kids than they perhaps are to adults and if your child knew them from school maybe they would be feral towards him. Surely he'd still be at risk walking to and from the BCCA at night unless you lived a 2 minute walk away? It's not a 2 minute walk to the BCCA for most Boscombe residents so if, like you say, people are scared to let their kids walk anywhere at night how would these classes end up with enough kids?

Do the BCCA need initial start up funding with the aim that after that funding they'll be self sufficient in the future? How were they deliberately scuppered? I'm not having a dig I'm genuinely curious.

SFF if Bournemouth sell all 11 properties I guess they stand to make back there £400k and quite a bit more. Even if they all sell for 100k that's 1.1million income although they do need to pay for building costs. If they dont have to pay back that 400k because its a grant theyll be laughing all the way to the bank. If they give the BCCA £100k their coffers will see no return.

I do think 26 rooms is an excessive amount of space for a community centre, especially one which previously was under utilised. Has the council refused to compromise with the BCCA and have a larger community area than originally proposed with slightly less houses?

Just reread the article and its 22 not 26. My mistake! I stand by what I said though.

Also wouldn't the rented BCCA rooms be in direct competition with the very successful Creative Pavilion at AUCB?

SFF wrote:
how dare you be so insulting. You have absolutely no right to comment on how I parent my child. You are a nasty low life troll. Single working parent do you know what that means? It means that when other parents are able to pick their kids up from school and take them to activities, I am still at work. Perhaps I should quit my job, go on benefits so I have all the time to travel to other parts of the borough on the bus. If more Boscombe parents took notice of what their kids do in their spare time they wouldnt be causing so much trouble, vandalism, grafitti in the area. Stuff which causes all tax payers grief. You go to the lovely parks and watch the kids hang out with the drug dealers. Mind you, by the sound of it you most likely encourage your child to do just that. Saves you from having to take responsibility for looking after them.

Oh dear, someone has the termenity to question you sff! Actually if you turn around your user name to For F**ks Sake, that is what I think whenever I read another diatribe by you on the what a hard-working single parent you are'... lalalala cr*p you post on a regular basis! This is not a forum for you to sanctify your life style on and if you can't hack that people might have a different opinion from you without resorting to calling them nasty low life trolls, I suggest you retreat back to your martyred way of life, always believing that you are right and anyone who has a different take on things is wrong (poor thing). By the way, you paint such a 'lovely' picture of Boscombe, am surprised you still live there. You can thank some of your 'friends' at BCCA for what happens there!

Can't believe I even let myself reply to that troll. Nevermind lesson learned.

The Council have caused damage to the property. They ripped out the toilets and removed heating pipes, but the radiators are still in place. The buildings are sound, apart from a small corridor with a leaking roof. A great deal of money was spent converting the buildings to disabled use before the closure. I gather that the estimated cost to get it back up and running was less than £100K.

I have seen no estimates for how much the council seeks to make on these properties. There seems to have been no proper studies on who will buy them. Apparently they will be sold as affordable and will have to remain so, but there has been no detail on how this will work either.

The Business Plan that the friends put forward relies on the scale of the BCCA. That you can rent out some to businesses, workshop space and studios, thus funding community activities. The size is what makes it self sustaining. The 3 rooms that will be left will have no room for businesses so will need ongoing council tax funding. They also do not include the theatre.

SFF wrote:
Can't believe I even let myself reply to that troll. Nevermind lesson learned.

The Council have caused damage to the property. They ripped out the toilets and removed heating pipes, but the radiators are still in place. The buildings are sound, apart from a small corridor with a leaking roof. A great deal of money was spent converting the buildings to disabled use before the closure. I gather that the estimated cost to get it back up and running was less than £100K.

I have seen no estimates for how much the council seeks to make on these properties. There seems to have been no proper studies on who will buy them. Apparently they will be sold as affordable and will have to remain so, but there has been no detail on how this will work either.

The Business Plan that the friends put forward relies on the scale of the BCCA. That you can rent out some to businesses, workshop space and studios, thus funding community activities. The size is what makes it self sustaining. The 3 rooms that will be left will have no room for businesses so will need ongoing council tax funding. They also do not include the theatre.

I'm not surprised they ripped out the heating pipes if you are planning to vacate a building, possibly not to return, it's better to take the pipes out than leave them in. People looking for scrap metal will do serious damage to a building, to the point of leaving it unsafe and even put themselves in danger. I've seen beautiful buildings that have been left with their piping in and they've been nearly destroyed by people stealing the pipes. Also the public wouldn't be too pleased if some thieves stole all the piping and made a tidy profit thanks to the council!

There's nearly always demand for affordable housing - they'll be bought by one of the many people who can't afford to buy on the free market. Most other affordable housing stays affordable so I'd assume the council would follow the system they always do. They wouldn't detail how it works because to them it's standard procedure although I understand why you might want to know.

Do you think you would still need a theatre at the BCCA IF the Shelley Theatre was open? If, as we're led to believe, it is going to open soon does Boscombe have the need and demand for 2 theatres? Has the BCCA already got potential tenants lined up for some of the business, workshop space and studios? Not people saying it's a good idea but people who are prepared to put down a deposit tomorrow if needed to and can prove they have that cash?

I'm not criticising when I ask all these questions I'm genuinely curious.

The theatre at the BCCA is very different from the Shelley Theatre. Would be much more accessible for community theatre than the more formal productions in my opinion. Also would be perfect to show films as a small arts cinema.

Listen I am not one of the governers of the BCCA friends, so I can't answer all of your questions. From what I can gather there were businesses waiting to rent space there. There is a detailed business plan. Look up Boscombe Arts on facebook and I am sure they would be able to answer any of your questions.

SFF wrote:
The theatre at the BCCA is very different from the Shelley Theatre. Would be much more accessible for community theatre than the more formal productions in my opinion. Also would be perfect to show films as a small arts cinema.

Listen I am not one of the governers of the BCCA friends, so I can't answer all of your questions. From what I can gather there were businesses waiting to rent space there. There is a detailed business plan. Look up Boscombe Arts on facebook and I am sure they would be able to answer any of your questions.

'NOT one of the governers'?
So, earlier when you said
''I want reasonably priced educational afterschool activities within walking distance from my house.'' you are not Katherine Edgar, of Gladstone Road (within walking distance of Haviland Road) Governor of BCCA then?
By the way, your son is hardly a teenager either is he.

verityvita wrote:

SFF wrote:
The theatre at the BCCA is very different from the Shelley Theatre. Would be much more accessible for community theatre than the more formal productions in my opinion. Also would be perfect to show films as a small arts cinema.

Listen I am not one of the governers of the BCCA friends, so I can't answer all of your questions. From what I can gather there were businesses waiting to rent space there. There is a detailed business plan. Look up Boscombe Arts on facebook and I am sure they would be able to answer any of your questions.

'NOT one of the governers'?
So, earlier when you said
''I want reasonably priced educational afterschool activities within walking distance from my house.'' you are not Katherine Edgar, of Gladstone Road (within walking distance of Haviland Road) Governor of BCCA then?
By the way, your son is hardly a teenager either is he.

Crikey I will have to respond. No I am not. I am just one of the many many ordinary residents who are opposed to the councils plans to take a local historical asset with bags of potential and bulldoze it.

Sorry to disappoint you.....

My my, no need for such vitriol and abuse my dear vita. Maybe they might have a stone wheel in the new 3 room Bcca hub on which you can grind your axe!

SFF wrote:

verityvita wrote:

SFF wrote:
The theatre at the BCCA is very different from the Shelley Theatre. Would be much more accessible for community theatre than the more formal productions in my opinion. Also would be perfect to show films as a small arts cinema.

Listen I am not one of the governers of the BCCA friends, so I can't answer all of your questions. From what I can gather there were businesses waiting to rent space there. There is a detailed business plan. Look up Boscombe Arts on facebook and I am sure they would be able to answer any of your questions.

'NOT one of the governers'?
So, earlier when you said
''I want reasonably priced educational afterschool activities within walking distance from my house.'' you are not Katherine Edgar, of Gladstone Road (within walking distance of Haviland Road) Governor of BCCA then?
By the way, your son is hardly a teenager either is he.

Crikey I will have to respond. No I am not. I am just one of the many many ordinary residents who are opposed to the councils plans to take a local historical asset with bags of potential and bulldoze it.

Sorry to disappoint you.....

yeah, yeah, whatever

I invite you to look at the article again. The council has secured funding for arts. I wants to use half of that to demolish an arts centre and the other half having pop up studio space which is by its nature temporary. Why not use the money to have the BCCA as a centre for artists and forget the temporary studios? This £400K does not seem to be anything to do with the affordable housing, it is a regeneration grant for arts. Thats how I read it. Why is the community having to beg and borrow studio space when there is a ready made centre that we own already there?

SFF wrote:
I invite you to look at the article again. The council has secured funding for arts. I wants to use half of that to demolish an arts centre and the other half having pop up studio space which is by its nature temporary. Why not use the money to have the BCCA as a centre for artists and forget the temporary studios? This £400K does not seem to be anything to do with the affordable housing, it is a regeneration grant for arts. Thats how I read it. Why is the community having to beg and borrow studio space when there is a ready made centre that we own already there?

Because in the past the community failed to utilise this facility and only now say they want to use it because they're about to lose it. The council cannot afford to fund facilities that have a past record of failing because if it fails again then they have wasted tax payers money when the writing was already on the wall.

The Recreate funding is for the creation and development of creative industries in Boscombe not for the provision of after school clubs. It's about employment and enterprise that is arts based rather than the arts in general. This press release for Bournemouth Council outlines it - http://www.bournemou
th.gov.uk/NewsEvents
/News/February-2013/
Funding-set-to-be-ap
proved-to-boost-Bosc
ombes-creative-indus
tries.aspx
It's EU funding that is not for the running and setting up of community centres but for stimulating employment in a specific sector. The BCCA is one part of the plan not the whole plan and if all the funding was spent on reopening the BCCA there would be issues with the EU over the misuse of funds.

The studios are temporary so they can also be put in other empty spaces (empty shops, etc) - for some artists the opportunity to have a space in a high street shop while it was empty would be much more useful than a space in the BCCA as it would give the opportunity to showcase their work to people passing by.

It took me one google search to find that all out because I wanted more background on the article and then a bit of critical thinking to understand it.

rozmister wrote:

SFF wrote:
I invite you to look at the article again. The council has secured funding for arts. I wants to use half of that to demolish an arts centre and the other half having pop up studio space which is by its nature temporary. Why not use the money to have the BCCA as a centre for artists and forget the temporary studios? This £400K does not seem to be anything to do with the affordable housing, it is a regeneration grant for arts. Thats how I read it. Why is the community having to beg and borrow studio space when there is a ready made centre that we own already there?

Because in the past the community failed to utilise this facility and only now say they want to use it because they're about to lose it. The council cannot afford to fund facilities that have a past record of failing because if it fails again then they have wasted tax payers money when the writing was already on the wall.

The Recreate funding is for the creation and development of creative industries in Boscombe not for the provision of after school clubs. It's about employment and enterprise that is arts based rather than the arts in general. This press release for Bournemouth Council outlines it - http://www.bournemou

th.gov.uk/NewsEvents

/News/February-2013/

Funding-set-to-be-ap

proved-to-boost-Bosc

ombes-creative-indus

tries.aspx
It's EU funding that is not for the running and setting up of community centres but for stimulating employment in a specific sector. The BCCA is one part of the plan not the whole plan and if all the funding was spent on reopening the BCCA there would be issues with the EU over the misuse of funds.

The studios are temporary so they can also be put in other empty spaces (empty shops, etc) - for some artists the opportunity to have a space in a high street shop while it was empty would be much more useful than a space in the BCCA as it would give the opportunity to showcase their work to people passing by.

It took me one google search to find that all out because I wanted more background on the article and then a bit of critical thinking to understand it.

I am only one member of the community who can see a use in arts based activities in the Centre. The business plan covers many different uses on the site, not just afterschool activities.

The BCCA friends are not asking for anything like that amount of money to reinstate the BCCA. They have estimated the costs at under £75K I understand. The council is using half the money to demolish most of an arts centre.

The friends dispute that the centre was underused. The Council had decided to move adult education elsewhere in the Borough. I have personally been told by people that they were given notice and people working there were told to refuse bookings so the Council could use this argument.

However you paint it the Council is using money that it says is to regenerate through the arts to demolish an arts centre. That surely is misuse of funds.

The other thing is that the Community is so disengaged by the Councils refusal to listen and determination to push ahead, that people like me quite frankly want nothing more to do with them. If you ask them they will say that they need community buy in for anything they do.

They are lucky that people like Linda and Katherine who are constantly smeared on sites like this will still engage with them and are doing their best for Boscombe. It is a complete shame and a scandal that they are having to take legal action. However they do have the support of ordinary residents of Boscombe. I wonder if you have ever been inside the BCCA. The studio space is already there. Having shop windows in the precinct is great, but even better if there are artists using proper studio space, and even better if there are students learning from them. Art that can be displayed and sold in the precinct. The location of the BCCA, the size of it and the layout of it make it ideal. Even better if people are attracted to take classes from all over the borough and then they go see the art in the precinct and buy it.

I should just make clear that the council is estimating demolishing the centre will cost 3 times as much as it is estimated it will cost to reopen it.

I wonder if they told the EU that they were using the money to almost completely demolish an arts centre and turn it into a leaflet display?

The council claim those three offices are for use by entrepreneurs in the arts rather than leaflets. I can't comment on if that will be true because I can't forecast the future.

The reason demolishing the centre isn't a misuse of the funds is because the money isn't earmarked for COMMUNITY arts but for setting up businesses that are arts based. The money isn't about makes arts accessible for all its about starting up businesses that will become self sufficient and generate more income in a deprived area not providing that area with arts facilities for all.

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with that but, in my own experience if funding for projects, the stipulation for using that money will normally be extremely specific. They will need to prove every penny went on new start up arts businesses not on a building for both start up businesses and arts for the community.

The EU know exactly what the money is being used for - to get such funding you have to submit very detailed proposals and to change those plans puts your funding at risk. If they dislike your changes they'll withdraw their funding offer. The EU know the BCCA will be demolished and have provided funding towards the cost of that.

No I've never been inside the BCCA I work in Boscombe part time and have so far only met one customer in about a hundred whose been inside the BCCA and takes any interest in the demolition of it. There is obviously a community backing for the BCCA but I think quite a large portion of our community are apathetic about their community arts centre and that's what makes me feel it may not be the best use of money to regenerate it. I'd like to think I'm wrong but I think unfortunately a lot of people are too busy surviving to think about, or engage with, the arts.

No I've never been inside the BCCA I work in Boscombe part time and have so far only met one customer in about a hundred whose been inside the BCCA and takes any interest in the demolition of it. There is obviously a community backing for the BCCA but I think quite a large portion of our community are apathetic about their community arts centre and that's what makes me feel it may not be the best use of money to regenerate it. I'd like to think I'm wrong but I think unfortunately a lot of people are too busy surviving to think about, or engage with, the arts.

I think you are wrong because I have met so many people who feel very strongly about this. Everyone is into the arts in some way. Whether they watch dramas on telly or go to the cinema, or have nice cushions, a picture on their wall or play a video game.

The council has itself recognised that Boscombe Centrals best way for regeneration is through the arts. It has a lot of artistic people living there who are committed to improving Boscombe. This approach has really helped other deprived areas. Artists need studio space not just galleries.

What the campaign is frustrated about is that the Council decided to demolish the BCCA a few years ago. Firstly for an extra carpark for the airshow. Then it was going to build an office block for itself on there. The only benefit to the community would be staff buying sandwiches at lunchtime, until they incorporated a canteen! The Friends managed to get the original 2 rooms listed which is the only reason that there is going to be any of it left. At a public meeting a councillor bragged that the centre would be demolished without going through planning processes. The Occupiers then moved in to stop the Councils illegal activities.. They were provided with food and blankets by many ordinary people in the community.
The council was forced to seek planning permission and despite there being over 900 objections and only 2 supporters of the application they voted it through. They listed community facilities in the area which included the pubs and the GP surgery.
The Council seem to be dead set on demolishing the site in my opinion through sheer bloody mindedness. They are now looking seriously at the potential for the arts to regenerate Boscombe, but they will not even countenance reviewing this original decision. It feels like they just want revenge on the Community. Hardly the proper workings of our representatives.

SFF wrote:
I think you are wrong because I have met so many people who feel very strongly about this. Everyone is into the arts in some way. Whether they watch dramas on telly or go to the cinema, or have nice cushions, a picture on their wall or play a video game.

The council has itself recognised that Boscombe Centrals best way for regeneration is through the arts. It has a lot of artistic people living there who are committed to improving Boscombe. This approach has really helped other deprived areas. Artists need studio space not just galleries.

What the campaign is frustrated about is that the Council decided to demolish the BCCA a few years ago. Firstly for an extra carpark for the airshow. Then it was going to build an office block for itself on there. The only benefit to the community would be staff buying sandwiches at lunchtime, until they incorporated a canteen! The Friends managed to get the original 2 rooms listed which is the only reason that there is going to be any of it left. At a public meeting a councillor bragged that the centre would be demolished without going through planning processes. The Occupiers then moved in to stop the Councils illegal activities.. They were provided with food and blankets by many ordinary people in the community.
The council was forced to seek planning permission and despite there being over 900 objections and only 2 supporters of the application they voted it through. They listed community facilities in the area which included the pubs and the GP surgery.
The Council seem to be dead set on demolishing the site in my opinion through sheer bloody mindedness. They are now looking seriously at the potential for the arts to regenerate Boscombe, but they will not even countenance reviewing this original decision. It feels like they just want revenge on the Community. Hardly the proper workings of our representatives.

Everyone comes into contact with the arts in some way but I think the problem is making them realise they want to actively participate in the arts. If you had the right facilities and marketing material it's possible but at present there are plenty of people in Boscombe who have contact with the arts (through their nice pictures on the wall or dramas on tv, etc) but don't participate in the arts. I work with some of the most deprived people in Boscombe and have done for 7 months now - I've never once discussed the arts with any of them and when I've mentioned the BCCA none of them have said "Ooo I really support that I'd go there". Maybe they would once it was open and they were able to see what was going on but at the moment there are plenty of people in Boscombe who aren't interested. Even if you just look at the earlier posts here there's a handful of people who say they live in Boscombe and never used it and don't mind it being demolished.

If the council planned to illegally demolish the building the best thing to do was occupy it. I'm glad that was done and I'm glad the community supported it - even if it is demolished eventually the council can't be allowed to go around knocking down buildings as they see fit within following the correct procedures.

Some of the GP surgeries in Boscombe are good with extra rooms for groups to use (although I'm not sure if that extends to arts) so I can understand how they could be community facilities but the pub in Boscombe aren't. Most of them are not suitable venues to take children or vulnerable adults to.

Unfortunately Bournemouth Council's bottom line is cost. They've done some really good work in the community (not Boscombe specifically but projects that cover all of Bournemouth including Boscombe) but generally they are looking for streamlined cost effective services that will cost them as little as possible to run. I suppose they don't want to reopen the BCCA for there to be funding issues and the council to be back in the same situation having spent all the money the first time around planning to redevelop the site and then have to do it again.

Out of interest wasn't there a plan to put artists studios above the Delkeith Arcade proposed a little while back? Perhaps that will provide space of artists if they do demolish the BCCA.

Could I ask the BCCA to answer the following questions:
1.In 2008 the costs for onsite security were quoted at £1,800 a month, plus a further £42,000 was quoted as being required to fund boarding up and repairs to damage done by break-in’s and vandals . If costs have stayed the same, that is a now a further £108,000 plus running repair costs (how much did it cost for instance to repair and make safe after the ‘Occupy’ sit in? Why should the tax payer continue to fund this whilst you continue to challenge moves to put this empty site to better use?
2. From a Press release by BCCA 2012, regarding Bournemouth Council- ‘’It is their duty to respect the wishes of the community, Bournemouth Council, however, rejected our plan, for a Community Centre,. We consulted more than 1,200 people in Boscombe over 9 days alone; since then we have consulted businesses; people in cafes and shops; in educational establishments...’
’ Who were the 1,200 people who you consulted? Is there a list of names kept that people could access to see who your supporters are and whether they are from Boscombe?
3.Also from the same Press release- ‘’Bournemouth Council have obtained £2.3 million to provide an” integrated services hub” from the Department of Children, Schools and Families. We believe that this should better invested on the BCCA site. So, if that is how you stated you would find funds, why do you know say that you are not asking for any?’’

I think you will find alot of the voices opposed to the BCCA are fronts for Bournemouth 2026.

If you had been to the open day that the occupiers held and met some of the vulnerable people who had turned their lives around after taking classes at the BCCA, then you would feel as passionately about it as me. People who had come to Boscombe to get clean and because they had activities they were able to stay clean and are now contributing to society.

There is currently nothing in Boscombe. Nothing in the arguments that I as a resident of Boscombe is being bombarded with here changes that. Shop window displays will not educate my child or provide education and support for people who come to this area to get better and are then dumped in the arms of drunks and druggies. People need skills and jobs and the Council are proposing neither, just windowdressing and bulldozers. I am going to stay off this thread as I am going over old ground. You should go to the Forum at Kings Park School on Saturday. I am sure both Katherine and Linda will be there and many other friends of the BCCA. They will be able to answer your questions.

SFF wrote:
I think you will find alot of the voices opposed to the BCCA are fronts for Bournemouth 2026.

If you had been to the open day that the occupiers held and met some of the vulnerable people who had turned their lives around after taking classes at the BCCA, then you would feel as passionately about it as me. People who had come to Boscombe to get clean and because they had activities they were able to stay clean and are now contributing to society.

There is currently nothing in Boscombe. Nothing in the arguments that I as a resident of Boscombe is being bombarded with here changes that. Shop window displays will not educate my child or provide education and support for people who come to this area to get better and are then dumped in the arms of drunks and druggies. People need skills and jobs and the Council are proposing neither, just windowdressing and bulldozers. I am going to stay off this thread as I am going over old ground. You should go to the Forum at Kings Park School on Saturday. I am sure both Katherine and Linda will be there and many other friends of the BCCA. They will be able to answer your questions.

Well, as with the questions posed in my first post-
'' If there are so many uses to be made of it, what have the proposed users been doing these last five years? Sitting on their thumbs? Why is it only in this place that the Arts and Media can set up shop and survive? If there is so much talent around they would be at it now not waiting for this building to re-open surely?''
There is a deafening silence from BCCA, is it because they have no real answer to these genuinely put queries.I must also state categorically that I am not now, nor ever have been a 'front' for anybody or any organisation. It is the refuge of the paranoid to accuse people who do not agree with their world view, of being one of a conspiracy against them.

ab8 wrote:

SFF wrote:
I think you will find alot of the voices opposed to the BCCA are fronts for Bournemouth 2026.

If you had been to the open day that the occupiers held and met some of the vulnerable people who had turned their lives around after taking classes at the BCCA, then you would feel as passionately about it as me. People who had come to Boscombe to get clean and because they had activities they were able to stay clean and are now contributing to society.

There is currently nothing in Boscombe. Nothing in the arguments that I as a resident of Boscombe is being bombarded with here changes that. Shop window displays will not educate my child or provide education and support for people who come to this area to get better and are then dumped in the arms of drunks and druggies. People need skills and jobs and the Council are proposing neither, just windowdressing and bulldozers. I am going to stay off this thread as I am going over old ground. You should go to the Forum at Kings Park School on Saturday. I am sure both Katherine and Linda will be there and many other friends of the BCCA. They will be able to answer your questions.

Well, as with the questions posed in my first post-
'' If there are so many uses to be made of it, what have the proposed users been doing these last five years? Sitting on their thumbs? Why is it only in this place that the Arts and Media can set up shop and survive? If there is so much talent around they would be at it now not waiting for this building to re-open surely?''
There is a deafening silence from BCCA, is it because they have no real answer to these genuinely put queries.I must also state categorically that I am not now, nor ever have been a 'front' for anybody or any organisation. It is the refuge of the paranoid to accuse people who do not agree with their world view, of being one of a conspiracy against them.

The other users are making do with what's available, track down the former groups who used the site, most would return in a flash. Many new groups are also interested currently operating out of shops and homes and other less than suitable premises. These groups are not hard to find.

I just feel that building a very small amount of housing for people who probably as yet have never heard of Boscombe is wrong. I think if the Council plans go ahead, and you bump into the new residents they will not be local. They will be from other parts of the country or probably further a field. As a current resident, I dont agree with an asset..... and albeit one in need of tlc being destroyed for short term profit. I dont actually believe in the end that the Council will make a profit from this if you take into account the costs of legal action. It does appear that some are the comments on here are from Bournemouth 2026 or Council employees..... why would they assume that one of the people in support of the BCCA is Kathryn if they are not either from the Council or 2026? Whats wrong with regenerating the BCCA? What harm will it do? We need the community to get involved and learn about the BCCA if they are not aware of it. I think some of the comments from the people in support of the Council are insulting and rude. With regards to the questiona about what Supporters of the BCCA have been doing over the last five years, they have been researching, campaigning, lobbying the Council and many other proactive things. Its become more public recently as the Council want the BCCA demolished. If it wasnt for the supporters it wouldve happened by now. The Council didnt systematically gut the BCCA to prevent burglars, they did it to make it unusable for the community. It was a useable facility until they closed it and gutted it. Pretty criminal I think.