I AM writing in reply to Rose Spence’s letter to the Echo published on Friday July 15, ‘Clifftop is in an awful state.’

The area referred to is known as Boscombe Overcliff Local Nature Reserve, which is also designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.

The council’s parks service ceased regular cutting of this area over a decade ago to allow the regeneration of native flora and fauna within the space.

The site is still regularly maintained, with litter and dog bins provided and the area litter picked.

Whilst we understand that some residents would prefer mown grass throughout the cliff top, we do have a responsibility to protect the diversity of native species of flora and fauna, and this is a view shared by the a growing number of residents.

We feel that we have achieved a reasonable balance between wilder areas and more formal areas of grass across the borough.

Leaving this area to grow is not about money saving, it’s about doing our bit locally to protect nature, if that saves fuel and money at the same time, then even better.

We do not feel that the site is detrimental to the health of either people or dogs; on the contrary, current research indicates that regular contact with natural and semi-natural green space provides many benefits to health.

CLLR LAWRENCE WILLIAMS

Cabinet member for Tourism Leisure and The Arts, Bournemouth council

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