A NEW “taskforce” has been set up by BCP Council to look at how smaller high streets across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can be supported.

Plans to form a cross-party group to look at the conurbation’s smaller district centres were revealed by the cabinet member for regeneration, councillor Mark Howell, earlier this year.

And it has now been announced that Hamworthy will be the first of these to be assessed with the aim of addressing problems affecting its viability.

The initiative was first revealed by Cllr Howell at the first-ever meeting of the council’s transportation advisory group.

He said a visit would be made to “district centres”, including the likes of Highcliffe and Winton, to give more of a focus to areas outside of the main three towns in the conurbation.

And following the progression of plans to purchase the Holes Bay power station site for more than 800 homes, it was announced that Hamworthy would be the first to be evaluated.

As part of the assessment of the area, ideas will be collated to make it “more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable in future”.

“Hamworthy is a priority area because its future success is directly linked to the development of the former power station site currently earmarked for 830 proposed new homes,” Cllr Howell, who is also the leader of Poole People, said.

“The regeneration of this key location presents an opportunity to improve amenities in Hamworthy’s local centre.

“It is essential that new housing blends in with the local centre to enhance that community, and that is accompanied by additional amenities.”

He said “a number of high streets or local centres” would be visited each year by a cross-party working group.

It would then discuss issues facing individual areas with ward councillors and residents to come up with a plan to “improve their vibrancy”.

These plans would then be used to assess potential improvement schemes “whenever future funding opportunities arise”.