My family have been in Bournemouth for five generations. During that period Bournemouth developed into one of the most beautiful and genteel places in Britain.

Unfortunately, through the hands of various administrations, it has been in decline for 40 or more years.

The great tourist venues are not the ones with the most fast food outlets, unless of course that is precisely the market Bournemouth is aiming for, and the blocking of the beautiful views over Poole Bay at the Pier is nothing short of scandalous.

Roundabouts and hot dog stalls deter far more people than they attract. We have great natural resources – the bay, the gardens, not forgetting the New Forest and Purbeck on our doorstep.

We do not need more cinemas or concrete shopping malls.

Wheel out the old trolley buses, what a tourist attraction they would be, and environmentally kinder than the ubiquitous diesel. Let’s think about improving the gardens.

Partial glass cover and ‘tree walks’ immediately spring to mind. Involve local businesses in the planning, not the conglomerates which take our money and run.

Finally, reduce or eliminate the ludicrous parking charges.

Geoff Cooper, St Albans Avenue, Bournemouth