GREAT news that Bournemouth is applying to be a city. (‘Could Bournemouth gain city status to mark Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?’ Echo, May 19) However, think a little harder. I moved here from London seven years ago and the idea that Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch are distinct and separate places seems tenuous to me.

There was a plan to amalgamate Southampton and Portsmouth as Solent city, but people’s lives don’t cross borders there.

What’s significant about our conurbation is the circumference of our lives takes us to all three towns.

Bournemouth University is in Poole and Bournemouth Airport is in Christchurch: I watch culture at the Lighthouse, I go for walks at Hengistbury Head and I go salsa dancing at Bar So.

This area has huge potential if we work together. Why do events like the air festival provoke turf wars rather than mutual co-operation?

I’d like to see this area become the Los Angeles of England by the end of the century with an underground system, a monorail and huge skyscrapers.

As a first step, I suggest an elected mayor for the three towns with a remit to promote co-operation.

And please no talk of the East Dorset Conurbation, I’d like to us to use the name BoMoCity, in fact I already do.

BRIAN JENNER, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth