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Bournemouth from the Bournemouth Eye Balloom in the Lower Gardens. Picture by Richard Crease, Bournemouth Echo. To buy this photo of Bournemouth seafront and to see more pictures, click here

High hopes for Bournemouth's Imax building - now have your say

8:00am Friday 2nd July 2010 in


PROSPECTIVE Imax developers are being told what the town wants to see on the controversial Waterfront site.

A draft planning brief informs would-be developers they need to provide a commercially viable attraction which can be proven to enjoy public support.

The redevelopment should improve the vista, open up sea views from Bath Road and lower the height of the building.

Careful thought must also be given to the facades and roof so the building doesn’t look too big or box-like.

Any replacement building will have to have “real architectural merit” and meet with the approval of experts from the Commission of Architecture and the Built Environ-ment and the South West Design Panel.

A recent public consultation found a combination of tropical gardens, water park, interactive arts, museum and performing arts space were the most popular choices to replace the Imax.

Residents are being urged to comment before the brief goes out to developers. It will be available online at bournemouth.gov.uk /waterfront from 4pm today. Comments must be received by August 4.

Council leader Stephen MacLoughlin said: “The brief is a guide for developers so they understand the public and the council’s aspirations for the site. We will expect them to put their own interpretation on Bournemouth’s requirements and come forward with inspirational schemes.

“At that stage, we will look at their proposals and start to determine exactly what might replace the Imax.

“This is a very exciting time for Bournemouth – we have the opportunity to create a fantastic all-weather attraction in a building that finally everyone can be proud of.”

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Comments(22)

BourneRed says...
8:32am Fri 2 Jul 10

So a few water flumes, running subtly through some palm trees and tropical plants.

From a distance the area looks nice and tropical, but also suits a purpose as a tourist attraction with a water park.

Flumes finish in a medium size pool, which is also able to be covered over as a stage for performances.

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sussexcherry says...
9:38am Fri 2 Jul 10

How about a framed copy of Playboy as a lasting memorial to Cllr MacLoughlin!!

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Mediclogan5 says...
9:48am Fri 2 Jul 10

If the councillors even bother to read the ECHO they would know that when the Royal Baths were demolished the council promised the town that a new indoor pool would be built within the BIC...and its filled in. They would also know that an Ice Rink and Indoor pool was way up in the residents wishes for an all weather indoor attraction. But the council already know what they want to give planning for don't they.

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Corrupto says...
10:07am Fri 2 Jul 10

What is with the palm trees? which Councilor has a business interest in trees and plants where they can give the tender out to help fill their own pockets ?

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Ian Rathbone says...
10:09am Fri 2 Jul 10

I don't get it.
As it's been said, we had a pool and it got filled in.
We had an ice rink and the former area is sitting there at westover doing absolutely nothing. http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=_tNeunWW1
w0

When are all those problems going to be solved?

I don't see how the public wants these tropical garden / arts / water park things down the sea front.

Also, are those things in the interest of the locals or of the tourist board? Will these attractions make their money back or are we going to be stuck in the same situation in another 10 years.

I say cut the losses. Give the IMAX one final go before actually wasting more money. What is there to lose?

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Haveasaytoday says...
10:58am Fri 2 Jul 10

Why waste money demolishing the Imax with a brief by the councillors to consider "tropical gardens, water park, interactive arts, museum and performing arts space" most of which will not bring extra revenue or tourists to the area. The current building could be redeveloped as an indoor snow slope, providing skiing snowboarding and fun family activities and a variety of unusual and exhilarating experiences and events on the slope. Used in conjunction with the other facilities in the area eg: The BIC and The Pavilion, corporate events could be held and there would also be the opportunity for wintersports retail shops and ski & snowboard hire. The South is sadly lacking in all year round, all weather snow facilities. A brief that ticks all the boxes for a council that promotes sports, leisure and tourism whilst bring in revenue and tourists!

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contric says...
11:14am Fri 2 Jul 10

i would like to see a roller skating rink like they used to have at the end of boscombe pier in the 60s it was great fun and always busy i dont think it would take a lot to set up and could be used maybe once or twice a week with other things going on the rest of the week it would give youngsters something to do and somewhere to meet and somewhere to burn of there energy

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kingsgreen says...
11:20am Fri 2 Jul 10

there are many places with beautiful and successful tropical botanic gardens under glass(Kew,etc).They attract visitors from all over if properly tended and marketed as an all year round attraction. I can't think of anything more in keeping with Bournemouth's Victorian/Edwardian roots.

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High Treason says...
11:51am Fri 2 Jul 10

Move the town hall to the Imax. That gives the higher ups in the council sea views whilst the rest of the council staff can work in cramped offices facing Bath Road.
Then turn the existing town hall into student lets or DW bed sits.

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Dorset Mitch says...
12:32pm Fri 2 Jul 10

Car park? Why a tropical garden when there is the winter gardens the other side of the road? A museum wont bring in the money, the arts well there is the BIC just up the road and other venues. Public swimming pool/lesiure centre would be good. Have a pool, gym, climibing wall etc?

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glennzilla says...
2:02pm Fri 2 Jul 10

As quoted from the article-
The redevelopment should improve the vista, open up sea views from Bath Road and lower the height of the building.
The waterpark at CentreParcs covers a vastly larger area than the existing IMAX building so how then do they propose to fit a combination of tropical gardens, water park, interactive arts, museum and performing arts space into a downsized building?

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jeebuscripes says...
2:10pm Fri 2 Jul 10

Why not tumble the IMAX and build a life size statue of the IMAX that will stand forever?

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boracay says...
3:12pm Fri 2 Jul 10

Why did he not thingk of a construction of a massive LAPTOP.....with a pole dance club next to it closely follow by an Adult Shop. After all thats his I.Q. level RIGHT?

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SillyGirl says...
3:13pm Fri 2 Jul 10

Why was the ice rink idea rejected? It's a great location for an ice rink - far better than the ridiculous idea of building one on King's Park. A huge part of the argument for an ice rink is that Bournemouth needs more bad weather attractions; the position of the IMAX is perfect for this as bad weather often comes on unexpectedly. You've then got a captive audience right there to come straight up from the beach and go skating, without having to drive/bus to the other end of town. Transport links are far better there, too.

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Bormuf Boy says...
3:39pm Fri 2 Jul 10

We don't have to put anything 'iconic' there. Why not return it as part of the general pier approach area possibly as a garden with seating. In years to come, if someone comes up with a great idea for the space , then we can build something. At the moment we've got this space and we HAVE to fill it. But we don't.

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Azphreal says...
3:55pm Fri 2 Jul 10

No that was the highest voted ideas from the COUNCILS list (they said no pool or ice rink) and i notice the word 'guide' meaning they will not have to do it at all!

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H2oHara says...
4:14pm Fri 2 Jul 10

I think that Lymington had a good idea with a salt water facility for safetys sake on those bad days when the sea is too rough for young and elderly , or indeed anybody !

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Boscomite says...
4:42pm Fri 2 Jul 10

What ever they do with the land, I would suggest that they take the rubble from demolishing the building, dump it out at the end of the pier and turn it into a surf reef.

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Bournefre says...
4:44pm Fri 2 Jul 10

Bormuf Boy wrote:
We don't have to put anything 'iconic' there. Why not return it as part of the general pier approach area possibly as a garden with seating. In years to come, if someone comes up with a great idea for the space , then we can build something. At the moment we've got this space and we HAVE to fill it. But we don't.
I agree. If you want to look at something 'iconic' go to the surf reef - that was a waste of money as well.
Asking for a swimming pool, ice rink or other warehouse-like structure is basically saying "build it again, but this time don't embarrass yourselves".
A lot of people don't seem to have noticed that nobody goes to the beach when it's raining.
Given the proximity to the gardens I would suggest a plaza (paved area) rather than a 'garden' as such.

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McVICAR says...
7:01pm Fri 2 Jul 10

Palm trees

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EGHH says...
6:12am Sat 3 Jul 10

I'd like to see the sea again...

Security word = vast-cash... Hmmmm

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caz-caz says...
10:48am Sat 3 Jul 10

why does everyone have an obsession with ice rinks and swimming pools - theyve had both at the BIC 300 metres away and they dont make money so whats the point in repeating that exercise.i think that a massive extention of the aquarium across the pier approach and all under glass would look fabulous,could incorporate some commercial outlets ,would certainly generate income perhaps with a florida style dolphinarium/ water show in the centre in a beautiful freesyle garden themed setting overlooking the sea would be low level and reopen the view from bath hill and could be very attractively lit at night ,it would draw people that way ,so a nice place to dine in a good restaurant - great for conference/corporate events and daytimes an all year round family attraction in an all weather venue - is it so difficult.

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