BOSCOMBE is set to benefit from a £65,000 grant that will be used to add seating, lights and plants, as well as give it a deep clean.

The money was secured by Bournemouth Coastal BID, which submitted a funding application to the Ministry of Housing and local government via Boscombe’s Towns Fund.

The funding will mean that permanent lighting and extra seating will be installed, as well as more planting.

And experts will be brought in to clean the precinct and will remove graffiti and gum.

The grant is part of the multi-million pound bid from the Towns Fund that BCP Council is applying for, but is ring-fenced.

Fiona McArthur, manager of the Coastal Bid said: “The money is specifically for the precinct in Boscombe and will be spent in a targeted way.

“The Coastal BID have been actively looking for grants and funding support to help all our areas and levy payers during this pandemic to encourage people to use their local businesses and to visit their local high streets.

“And we are delighted to have achieved this fund for Boscombe.

“Boscombe has so much to offer and the more we can do for the precinct the better for everyone.

“The money will allow us to provide more seating and extra planting as well as the permanent lighting and a good clean.

“Clearly the run-up to Christmas and the Christmas period are crucial for all high streets and retailers and we’ll be doing everything we can to encourage people to use local businesses.

“We are also pleased to announce that Boscombe’s annual lighting scheme will be installed in November, starting with Halloween, and running through the Christmas period until Mother’s Day in 2021.

“This will brighten up the area and bring some much-needed seasonal cheer to the shopping precinct.”

The BID’s ‘villages’ are Tuckton, Pokesdown, Southbourne, Boscombe, East Cliff & West Cliff, Seafront and Westbourne.