Residents Association Monthly Newsletter

Illegal Parking

New removal powers have been introduced in the BCP Council area to tackle illegal parking in cases where parked vehicles are causing an obstruction.

Towing away of vehicles will complement the existing enforcement ticketing operation in place across the conurbation but will only be used where parked vehicles are causing significant problems such as a dangerous hazard.

The initial operation will run from the end of July to the end of September before being reviewed ahead of a decision on whether to roll it out permanently.

The option to tow away has been rolled out across the whole area of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole and not just in seafront locations. Vehicles which flout parking rules and are left on double yellow lines, across driveways, cycle lanes, on verges or too close to junctions blocking sight lines could be towed-away.
Vehicles removed will be subject to the Government-set fine of £150 and face up to £20 a day storage fee for every 24 hours their car is left before being collected.

New BCP App

BCP Council has unveiled a new app allowing residents and visitors to check which beaches across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are the least congested, in a bid to promote safety.

BCP Beach Check, developed by Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Tourism, has a traffic light system using the latest technology to help people avoid busy hotspots.

The simple-to-use app is free to download and available now from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

App data is supplied by a mix of sources. At the start of the day, a prediction is set for each zone, based on previous data, factoring in the date and weather to show how busy BCP forecast each zone will be.

From mid-morning, BCP Seafront Ranger team update each section on a regular basis to reflect any changes in congestion observed. This is supplemented by CCTV and some footfall counters.

A feedback function allows users to also give feedback so additional input is possible.

BCP Helping the Environment

All council buildings across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will be powered on 100% renewable electricity from October.

In response to the climate emergency it declared in the summer, BCP Council has taken steps to ensure its own electricity use comes from 100% renewable sources.

In addition to this BCP also plans to switch the electricity supply of all streetlights in Poole to green electricity bringing this into line with the renewable energy supply already in place for streetlights in Bournemouth and Christchurch.

By switching to green renewable electricity, BCP’s carbon footprint will reduce by 5,944 tonnes which is equivalent to the carbon dioxide produced by the electricity used in 1,930 households across Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole.

The electricity procured will be supplied by Npower and will be generated from wind and hydro sources.

The initial cost of the electricity will be an additional £10,500 per year.

Police Forces Cooperate

Dorset Police and Portland Port Police have signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The signing took place on Friday 17 July 2020 and formalises a working relationship, which will see the two services support each other to keep the area safe for both local and transient communities.

Portland Port Police function under powers from the Department of Transport and manage the day-to-day security of the port and the immediate surrounding area. They provide a vital service in maintaining the safety and security of an important area within Dorset and to the thousands of visitors to the area every year.

The partnership will involve the sharing of assets, improved communication and collating information. A 12-month pilot will allow both forces to adapt to the partnership and consider where any future improvements can be made and see where further developments are needed.

Anti-Social Behaviour Survey

Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner has launched a survey asking residents about their experiences of anti-social behaviour.

The survey asks residents whether they have been victims of anti-social behaviour, how much of a problem they think it is in their area and whether they believe it’s got worse or better in recent years.

To complete the survey please click here:

The survey will also look into what types of anti-social behaviour residents think Dorset Police should prioritise, as well as whether people who have experienced problems have reported them to the police and other agencies.

The police take responsibility for certain kinds of anti-social behaviour – such as threatening or drunken behaviour and buying drugs on the street – with organisations such as local authorities and housing associations dealing with a range of other incidents, such as barking dogs and noisy neighbours.

Findings will be used to plan future strategies helping the police work with organisations to tackle the problem as well as to brief the county’s next Police and Crime Commissioner after forthcoming elections.

Dorset Crime Figures

Dorset Police has seen a 2.3 per cent drop in recorded crime, according to figures released on Friday 17 July 2020.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics, shows the Force has reversed a previous rise in crime in just six months. This decrease comes against a national rise of 1.4 per cent and marks an improved turnaround from similar figures last September, which showed a rise of two per cent in recorded crime.

The total number of crimes reduced from 55,265 to 54,016 over the 12-month period, a reduction of 1,249 (-2.3 per cent).

Burglary dropped 10.3 per cent overall with residential offences decreasing by 11.9 per cent, set against a national average drop of 9.1 and 9.2 per cent respectively.

Violence against the person rose 2.9 per cent, compared to a 6.7 per cent rise nationally, while violence with injury dropped 3.7 per cent, better than the national average, which was down 1.2 per cent.

Following a crime reduction of 2.3 per cent during the 12 months to the end of March 2020, Dorset now has the eighth lowest crime rate in England and Wales.

New Planning Laws

New laws laid in Parliament on 21 July 2020 will deliver much-needed new homes and revitalise town centres across England.

The new rules, which will come into effect by September, will mean full planning applications will not be required to demolish and rebuild unused, derelict buildings as homes whilst commercial and retail properties can be quickly repurposed to help revive our high streets and town centres.

This will help our high streets and town centres to provide more space for new businesses and help them to adapt quickly to what consumers and businesses need.

Homeowners will also be able to add up to 2 additional storeys to their home to create new homes or more living space for growing families through a fast track approval process, with a requirement to carefully consider the impact on neighbours and the appearance of the extension.
This should reduce pressure to build on greenfield sites and deliver more homes that fit the character of their local area, without the red tape.

Bournemouth Hospital

BCP Council has approved a planning application for the creation for the new Maternity, Children’s, Emergency and Critical Care Centre (MCEC) on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site.

It was put forward as part of the Dorset clinical services review which will see the hospital become a major acute care centre and merged with Poole Hospital which will be transformed into a planned treatment hub.

Permission has already been granted for work to extend Poole Hospital, but the Royal Bournemouth scheme was put to councillors for a decision.

A report published before they met recommended that the application be approved after measures, including dedicated cycleways and a new direct bus route between the two hospitals, were agreed.

And despite concerns that this did not go far enough, planning permission was granted after councillors said the "great benefits" of improved treatment facilities outweighed these.

This development, described by the hospital as a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ can be read here.

The new facilities will include new purpose-built maternity unit, children’s unit, enhanced emergency department and critical care unit, with capacity for up to 30 beds.

As part of development plans, the multi-story car park will be enlarged, and a new pathology hub built to provide laboratory services for the whole of Dorset.

Environmental sustainability is central to these developments, and the Hospital Trust has committed £1m to support the provision of more sustainable and healthy travel options.

This is a significant milestone in the delivery of the clinical services review, helping to unlock over £250m of investment into Dorset which will benefit the NHS and the public for years to come.

The planning application for the Christchurch site and the development of the new Macmillan Unit was submitted in March this year, although there is still further work to be done before this can be formally registered.

It is anticipated that work will be completed by 2026.

Neighbourhood Watch Survey

Neighbourhood Watch are delighted to launch their first ever Impact Survey.

This is a survey open to all members of the public including supporters and members. It will enable them to look at how Neighbourhood Watch impacts in our communities and identify the concerns surrounding crime, fear of crime and the increase in neighbourliness and community spirit.

You can participate here IMPACT SURVEY .

A Sign of the times

A beach hut at Mudeford Sandbank has sold for a record £330,000.

A bidding war broke out over the wooden hut, listed for the same price as a perfectly acceptable house. As well as the eye-watering purchase price, the owners must pay annual rates of about £4,500 a year.

There are about 360 beach huts at Mudeford, all of which are privately owned.

Four potential buyers put in offers on the 12ft by 10ft hut - two of them without even viewing it. And it sold for £5,000 more than the asking price.

The huts have no mains electricity or running water and shower facilities are in a shared communal block. Cars are banned from the spit which must be reached by land train, ferry or on foot.

Its isolated position is what attracts wealthy people to buy the cabins which can sleep up to six people each. The demand for them has never been greater due to people being put off travelling abroad.

Owners can only sleep in the huts from March to October but can visit any time of year.

News in Brief

BCP have asked if residents could notify them of overflowing dog bins. Please use the link:

A new Town Councillor has been co-opted to fill the vacancy, caused by the death of Councillor Colin Bungey. Her name is Mrs Vivienne Charratt and her contact details can be found on the Town Council website.

The vacancy on the main BCP council remains unfilled.

Farewell

It has been my privilege to edit this newsletter since its inception on a trial basis in autumn 2010 and its full launch in 2011.

Sadly, this will be my last. I have terminal cancer and must hand over the reins whilst I can still help my successor to take over.

I must thank the people who read the draft and endeavour to ensure that we present the facts whilst leaving you, our residents, to form your own opinions. That’s not always as easy to do as it is to say and if from time to time, we got it wrong I apologise.

Most of all I must thank our readers. You have never hesitated to let me know your opinions and concerns. I shall miss you all dreadfully.

Jim Biggin

Jim has been an exceptional Chairman and Secretary of our Association for well over 15 years.

He has tirelessly worked on all aspects of the local environment dealing with contentious issues at both Borough and County levels.

He has arranged petitions and organised television and local media over the planned felling of thousands of trees on St. Catherine’s Hill that would have been detrimental to local houses with the possibility of future flooding.

Working with Hurn and Ferndown Councils he stopped Dorset Council from building a large white elephant of a waste disposal facility at Hurn.

He was involved with many local, County and National officers including an environment Minister, fighting to stop the proposed off shore wind farm (Navitas Bay) that would have seen 22 miles of tunnelling for cabling the width of a motorway from Barton on Sea to the power hub at Three Legged Cross. Crossing 3 major roads on its route across our countryside, the environmental and disruption issues from laying these cables would have been disastrous for the whole area and Hurn Forest in particular.

He was instrumental in discussing planning proposals with developers for 3 large supermarkets in Christchurch that were eventually thwarted due to a mixture of road changes and yet more environmental problems.

Without doubt, Jim has contributed a tremendous amount of his time and personal effort with enthusiasm purely on a voluntary basis to help our local community and is an inspiration to us all.

Roger Hamilton

Ex-Chairman of the Residents Association

Community Matters is produced and edited by a team of local residents who try to present you with the facts that will both keep you informed and enable you to make up your own mind on local issues
Jumpers and St Catherine's Hill RA

Your Residents Association Newsletter

Community Matters - August 2020