I AM writing in response to a letter that I wrote which appeared in your February 14 edition and the positive comments that many of your readers have responded with in respect of the Imax cinema and the local councillors.

I feel that the time has now come, before it is too late, to take some positive actions regarding the future of Bournemouth and not to allow our councillors talking about future developments which never actually materialise.

Several years ago I was a staunch supporter of Rod Kennedy’s campaign in respect of the Winter Gardens to retain the original building and encompass it in a more modern looking concert hall and in doing so would have retained the original building to preserve its wonderful acoustics.

On my final meeting with Rod Kennedy I stated that the council was adamant that it should be pulled down and a temporary car park made before detailed plans were finalised for a new music and arts venue.

That was some 10 years ago and what do we still have left there?

The Winter Gardens scheme proposed recently is nothing short of a complete farce. No one will be investing £80million pounds into that project.

What Bournemouth needs is a steering committee made up of local businessmen and women who have a vision with a master plan for this town and a passion like myself for Bournemouth and not leaving such major decisions to local councillors, many of whom have no business acumen whatsoever.

They have wasted millions of pounds of tax payers’ money on white elephants such as the Imax and the Boscombe Reef. These councillors must be reminded that they have been democratically elected to do the best for Bournemouth, using our money which we have paid in council taxes. They have a duty to spend this money wisely and to invest in projects which benefit the town and encourage the holiday makers and day trippers back to Bournemouth.

We all know that we want an ice skating rink, an indoor swimming pool and other attractions for the younger generation to enjoy and what are we left with? An aquarium and a few amusements with rides on the promenade and pier.

We need investment to bring back the holidaymakers so that our shops and restaurants can survive.

Just take a drive around our once bustling town starting with the Bond Street of Bournemouth ‘Westover Road’ and count the number of empty shops, even Old Christchurch Road and Commercial Road, it is indeed very sad to see so many of them.

I suggest the local councillors take a drive around Bournemouth on Friday and Saturday evenings and count the number of families enjoying an evening out with their children.

What you will find are hundreds of people on stag and hen parties, the majority of them worse for wear with excess drink.

We read in the local press of stabbings and shootings in Bournemouth, it would be sad to hear our councillors respond to this by saying it is a national problem in this recession.

Well take a day trip to Brighton and see how that thriving town is coping, with busy restaurants and shops, seven days a week.

You Bournemouth councillors need to listen to the local residents and businesses in this town and get into the real world with positive investment for the future.

You need to inject some fresh local blood into the chambers because with your lack of vision we are going nowhere.

D JAMES, (Local businessman for 30 years)