JAMES Smart in his letter of April 9 asks what Bournemouth council does for the people of Kinson.

The council has invested millions of pounds in Kinson over the past few years.

The Pelhams Park Leisure Centre was completed in December 2010 at a cost of nearly £7million and is a fantastic and much valued facility for the residents of north Bournemouth.

The innovative and well-used Kinson Hub was completed about two years ago at a cost of around £3million.

A much-needed new extra-care housing scheme has been built on the site of Purdey House at a cost of £3million.

Over £3million has been invested in Kinson Primary School and Christ the King School over the last five years and there has been very significant investment in Oakmead Technology College, King’s High, Kingsleigh Primary, Elmrise Primary and Heathlands Primary.

Approximately 300 council dwellings in the Kinson area have been fitted with PV cells at a cost of around £2million, to provide free electricity to some of our most disadvantaged households – as well as helping to make Bournemouth greener.

It is unfortunate that the developer and Tesco were not able to come to an agreement regarding the supermarket site, but they were treated exactly the same as any other development in requiring contributions towards road and other improvements.

This massive investment by Bournemouth Council in improving life for the people of Kinson is unprecedented in my memory and is much appreciated by the vast majority of the residents of north Bournemouth.

CLLR ANNE FILER Cabinet Member – Corporate Efficiency, Bournemouth Council