Boscombe's reality check (From Bournemouth Echo)

Boscombe's reality check

10:36am Monday 6th July 2009 in

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THE weekend has brought another unwanted and unfortunate round of publicity for Boscombe.

A couple of weeks ago, an incident involving local MP Tobias Ellwood and a number of youths put the problems of the area back on the political agenda and in the media spotlight.

In the past 48 hours there’s been further cause for serious concern. A young man is fighting for his life in hospital after a savage assault in an alleyway off Roumelia Lane early on Saturday morning.

It was in that same vicinity that the MP’s fracas took place. The victim of the latest assault is in the neurological unit at Southampton with life-threatening head injuries.

Meanwhile hours earlier, a man in his 40s apparently suffered knife wounds to his neck and throat in Heathcote Road and was taken away covered in blood.

All this has been taking place just a stone’s throw from the very different world of smart apartments and regeneration taking place at Honeycombe Chine.

While millions have been invested on the seafront (including a scandalous £75,000 on a ridiculous piece of art), other parts of Boscombe are going to the dogs.

Just ask the residents – some of whom want to get out, or just go take a look yourself.

Civic leaders need to tear themselves away from the obsession with the spin about the surf reef, check out what’s happening in the real world and do something about it. Before it’s too late.