I AM delighted that we were able to force its leadership into a U-turn after we alerted residents and hoteliers to BCP Council’s madcap scheme for the East Cliff.

However, I am extremely concerned by their efforts to justify why they failed to even inform, let alone consult, residents or those of us elected to represent them about fourteen road-closures right across the conurbation.

The facts are simple. All these schemes, including those for East Overcliff Drive, Boscombe Overcliff Drive and Southbourne Overcliff Drive, were submitted to Government on June 5. Implementation has to be by September 12: a full 14 weeks later. Most were planned for late August.

The leadership’s claim that they had no time to consult is simply untrue. They just did not want the inconvenience and risk of exposing their proposals to those thousands of affected residents. Instead they deviously hid their intentions so they can force through their dogmatic car-hating agenda.

It is deplorable too that they have done this under the guise of “Emergency Covid legislation”. They should be ashamed of themselves.

CLLR MIKE GREENE

Bournemouth Central Ward (Conservative)

BCP Council