AS WARD councillors of Boscombe West, where the regeneration work in Boscombe is primarily focused, Chris Wakefield and I would like to respond very strongly to the letter from Geoff Cooper (September 12).

If Mr Cooper would like to refer to our webpage bournemouth.gov.uk/boscombe regeneration he will see that almost two years ago, when we published our Boscombe Commitment document, we clearly demonstrated that we were then acutely aware of exactly where the problems in Boscombe lie.

We have spent those two years gathering evidence to enable us to effectively change that situation. A knee-jerk reaction would not have a deep and lasting effect, and we are determined that as we gradually make headway with our strategy, the changes made will be sustainable.

The two objectives for the Housing Theme Group are to secure a more sustainable profile of accommodation, and a more sustainable community.

The ‘tarting up of a few houses’ and the improvements to the Crescent, the Precinct and Christchurch Road, are extremely important elements in that strategy.

We need to provide housing which is fit for purpose – we have bought and converted three HMOs to date, and have plans for many more over the next few years – and also ensure that the economic vitality of Boscombe is encouraged by helping young entrepreneurs to get started and flourish as well as working with private investors who wish to develop retail and residential properties.

In direct contrast to Mr Cooper’s assertion that the drug and alcohol rehabilitation services offered in Boscombe are ‘council sponsored’, we would confirm that the local authority does not have any financial interest in either of the two licensed and regulated residential rehabilitation establishments or any of the other privately owned and run properties which offer supported accommodation to help people beat their addiction issues.

These are all privately run businesses over which we currently have limited control, but our multi-agency group, Galaxy, are working with and calling to account the owners of those businesses to raise standards and reduce the density of people with complex addiction problems living in a limited geographical area.

I would like to remind Mr Cooper of our Vision for Boscombe, printed in the Commitment Document of November 2012: ‘Boscombe will be a place which has a vibrant, mixed and sustainable community who live in good quality housing which is affordable, in an area with appropriate infrastructure and exciting opportunities.’

This vision, along with the objectives mentioned above, remains firmly in the minds of every member of the Boscombe Regeneration Partnership, all of whom passionately believe that the residents of Boscombe want and deserve that outcome.

COUNCILLOR JANE KELLY 
Ward Member for Boscombe West