THE leader of BCP Council has revealed he wants “spades in the ground” on a new leisure centre in Poole town centre ahead of next year’s local elections.

Cllr Drew Mellor gave the commitment for the replacement of the Dolphin in Kingland Road as well as progress on other development projects in Poole town centre north.

Residents are due to go to the polls and vote for all BCP Council wards in May 2023.

The Conservative Group leader said he wants there to visible progress in Poole before election day.

Speaking during a BCP Council Facebook Live broadcast, Cllr Mellor said the local authority-owned urban regeneration company, BCP Future Places, would have the “overarching remit” to bring the plans together.

“We have got some major work going on at the moment in terms of the town centre – the bus station piece and the leisure centre,” said Cllr Mellor.

Bournemouth Echo: Cllr Drew MellorCllr Drew Mellor (Image: BCP Council)

“We are committed to providing a new and improved leisure centre in Poole, so we expect that to come forward soon.

“What we are going to do is bring forward a series of plans for individual areas like the town centre main piece there.

“I am committed that we will start making some active delivery before 2023, which is the next election – that is what I have tasked the team to do.

“I want spades in the ground in terms of leisure centre provision and what we are going to do in town centre north and actively we have a plan coming forward in June for Poole Quay through Future Places.”

Councillor Mellor said the administration was pursuing “specific plans in dedicated areas” rather than a single masterplan for Poole town centre.

He said there will be decisions and money going into new investment in early summer this year.

Poole town ward councillors, who are all Poole People Party members, have previously spoken out with concerns about the Conservative administrations regeneration plans.

In relation to replacing the leisure centre, Cllr Mark Howell said he feared the facility would be a “downsize” on what is offered at present.

He said it was important the new centre was still in the town centre.

Last year BCP Council deputy leader Cllr Philip Broadhead told the Daily Echo it was important the current administration avoided falling into the same pitfalls as successive previous administrations in the borough.

The redevelopment of Poole town centre north, which includes the anti-social behaviour hotspot that is the bus station, has been discussed at council meetings for years, including the former Borough of Poole local authority.

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