A NEW campaign has been launched to attract people to Boscombe ’s Sovereign Centre.

The new marketing team updated traders, who were concerned street drinkers and beggars are driving people away, at September’s meeting of the Boscombe Business Forum.

There will be three events each month every month on regular days so that customers always know there is something coming.

For example there will be a Band Day with music from local acts on the second Saturday of every month starting from October.

There will also be a ‘Sovereign Senior’s Day’ on the third Tuesday of the month with events aimed at older people including information sessions and tea dances.

However one trader at the meeting said: “Organising tea dances will not stop middle-aged men walking around with cans of beer.”

Others asked why they had to put up with the trouble and asked for crime and anti-social behaviour to be the priority.

Nigel Hedges, chairman of the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade, welcomed the new events but said the traders concerns were serious and needed to be addressed.

Ray McGlynn, centre manager, said: “We are very excited about the new program of events for the local community and visitors to the area to enjoy.

“We are looking forward to bringing all ages of the community together and having lots of fun, while raising awareness of particular issues and providing advice.”

Cat McMillan, the council’s community regeneration officer, offered to give a talk at a future meeting about the ongoing work on crime, but warned: “Our police are already over committed.”