A BLUEPRINT for Bournemouth’s future development will breathe much-needed new life into the town centre and lure 300,000 shoppers back into the resort.

That’s the confident prediction of Nigel Hedges, President of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce, following the unveiling of a radical new brief for developers.

The action plan proposals for 10 key sites, revealed in yesterday’s Daily Echo, include a “water-based family attraction” on the Bath Road South car park, up to 2,000 new homes, a Grand Garden Walk connecting the seafront, leisure and shopping areas and the return of buses to the old Exeter Road bus station site.

Other proposals include homes on the site of the current Central car park, a cut in the number of car parks – although the number of spaces would stay the same – and a family attraction where the Winter Gardens once stood, as well as the possibility of homes and hotels.

Welcoming the proposals, Mr Hedges said: “This is definitely the way forward; all these developments are essential for the future of Bournemouth.

“We can’t afford the luxury of acres of sterile town centre car-parks which are a terrible waste of space.

“We need more life in the town and the proposals are a well-balanced mix which have our full support. Family attractions, including indoor facilities, are very important for any seaside town.

“The sooner this all happens the better; the moment one crane appears there will be an unseemly rush because everybody will want to be a part of it.”

Hotelier Alison Gandolfi from the Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association said: “What we need is quality accommodation along with indoor attractions, leisure facilities and a more user friendly transport system.

“The proposals have been well thought through and are badly needed to move Bournemouth town centre into the 21st century.”