I HAVE over my 15 year career as a local councillor deliberately steered clear of commenting on what happens in our neighbouring borough to the East.

Now that the Government has seen fit, against the express wishes in a referendum of the residents of Christchurch and the votes of every opposition councillor in Poole (residents of course having been denied a referendum by the Tory majority), to merge our three towns I cannot remain silent any longer.

The proposed hotel development costing a reported £70million of borrowed money does not just concern residents of Bournemouth. Council taxpayers in Poole and Christchurch will assume liability for this decision come April of next year. With this in mind I enquired of the Poole Leader Cllr Walton what prior consultation Bournemouth had undertaken with her and what representations she had made on behalf of Poole council taxpayers.

The answer, not surprisingly, was “none” and “none”. She is quite content that Bournemouth merrily make their own decisions for the next year irrespective of the fact that this financial disaster, for it will surely become one, will impact Poole and Christchurch residents.

Does anyone truly believe the touted figures of £5million per annum profit from this deal? Does no one remember the Imax, the surf reef, Mouchel outsourcing, eye-watering financial payoffs to council officers or the infamous Bank of Bournemouth?

It is utterly wrong that Bournemouth council can make huge decisions behind closed doors that financially impact residents beyond their boundaries. I call on Cllrs Beesley and Broadhead to bring all the figures into the public domain in order that they can be properly scrutinised by all, not just by Bournemouth members of their own political group.

COUNCILLOR PHILIP EADES

Branksome West Ward, Borough of Poole