I AM writing on behalf of Bournemouth Liberal Democrats to challenge our borough council leadership over recent investment decisions.

Retail parks like Mallard Road are often occupied by companies with similar business models to Maplin and Toys R Us, both companies on the brink of demise. Couple with that the recent take-over of Homebase and the profits warning issued by Carpetright, both of whom have stores in Mallard Road and we have to query the wisdom of such an investment.

All over the country retailers are struggling as consumers move more and more towards online purchases. The days of high streets and retail parks in their current form seem, in all probability, to be numbered and we believe that local authorities need to take a more innovative approach to future planning. The decision to buy into retail property is akin to purchasing a steam railway just as the world is moving on to hyperloops.

We are also concerned that a commitment to borrowing £49 million from other local authorities has been made just as Bournemouth Borough Council is to be joined with Poole and Christchurch. Were our neighbouring authorities consulted over this decision? It would seem to us only right that they should have been, as residents of Poole and Christchurch will surely be exposed to any financial vulnerabilities this scheme might ultimately present.

The council's high-risk strategy of borrowing to build a new hotel in Bournemouth town centre is also highly questionable. Not only does this Cabinet decision expose council tax payers to yet more financial vulnerability, but it begs the question of whether it should be a local authority's place to directly promote competition to existing businesses in the town.

Bournemouth Liberal Democrats would be much keener to see our council taking advantage of low interest rates to invest in social and affordable housing in the Borough. The sums of money involved in the hotel and retail park decisions could go a huge distance towards eliminating our housing waiting list of nearly 4,000 applicants.

If councillors are concerned with promoting employment opportunities in the town whilst carrying forward their vision of making Bournemouth a 'world-class' resort, perhaps they could also have considered investing in our amazing creative sector. For example, a more modest sum than £49million could have been used to purchase the former Odeon cinema in Westover Road. This could have been converted into a serious theatre or even become a permanent home for ballet, opera and the arts that would be almost unique outside of London. This would provide both employment opportunities for local residents and graduates from our brilliant universities, and a genuinely world-class attraction, encouraging audiences from all over the south of England and beyond to visit and stay in the town.

PHIL DUNN

Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Spokesman for Bournemouth West