Bournemouth Civic Society calls on council to clean up town centre

Members of Bournemouth Civic Society have stepped up their campaign, which is urging BCP Council to tackle issues around rubbish and graffiti.

John Soane, the civic society’s built environment consultant, said pressure last summer led to actions being taken around grass cutting routines.

However, he said problems with litter and spray paint vandalism on buildings remained.

Mr Soane told the Daily Echo: “The fact remains that it has taken an exceptional public effort to achieve results that would have been second nature to councillors and municipal employees in previous authorities in our town.

“Quite frankly, the new BCP Council still does not fully embody the sort of whole hearted commitment to ensuring the highest environmental standards in what is supposed to be the finest holiday resort on the south coast.

“As a native of Bournemouth, I would suggest there no longer seems to be a natural desire by our council to ensure the complete integration and efficient functioning of every aspect, be it how small, of the municipal infrastructure and appearance of the resort.”

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Mr Soane gave The Square and Richmond Hill as an example, with overflowing trade waste bins and pieces of heavy rubbish being left near Natwest bank for prolonged periods, including over the summer months.

He said numerous complaints from both the civic society and the bank had failed to lead to action by the local authority.

“What has Bournemouth come to when visitors are obliged to make their way through such an unsightly mess that the council has refused to remove right through the high summer season,” said Mr Soane.

He added: “With all my heart I feel it is absolutely essential that the exceptional visual characteristics of Bournemouth should never be taken for granted.”

Mr Soane said the civic society wants the cabinet portfolio holder for environment, cleansing and waste, Cllr Mark Anderson, to act swiftly and decisively.

The West Cliff resident is due to raise the matter at this evening’s full council meeting through the public question provisions.

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Cllr Nicola Greene, BCP Council portfolio holder for council priorities and delivery, said: “As part of the council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme we are committed to improving our area with pilots launched in the conurbation’s three town centres.

Cllr Nicola Greene

“Council officers will be working with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), businesses and private landowners within these pilots to encourage self-led action to clean up properties and property boundaries as part of shared action to increase pride across our public realm.”

A council spokesman said where incidents of offensive or significant graffiti are reported on private land, the local authority’s environmental protection team will engage with the landowner and where necessary, consider action under relevant powers to enforce clearance.

They added that the large silver bins at the bottom of Richmond Hill are believed to be commercial bins.

The frequency at which these are emptied is down to the agreement with whichever contractor is engaged to empty them, the spokesman said.