The Beryl Interviews
In the saddle: Councillor Philip Broadhead
What do you get if you cross a Beryl Bike with BH Living and a member of BCP Council? Hopefully, some great views of our local area, some interesting chat and two people getting a bit of well-needed exercise. In this edition of the Beryl Interviews, BH Living’s Brian Case is cycling with Cllr Philip Broadhead, Deputy Leader of BCP Council and portfolio holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning. We’re hoping to get some insight into the latest hot-topics to cross Cllr Broadhead’s desk over recent weeks and his thoughts on all things local.
quite rightly keen to get on with development but ‘we as a council need to look at these plans and see what is right for the public’. He added the council needs to speak with fellow councillors, as well as the town council, to see what is needed to suit the residents; what type of housing, access to the river area etc. “We also have a problem with flooding and are in a flood zone here so we all have to work together to see how all this fits into the local regeneration” Philip said. On the employment front he also said we have the leisure complex and the old gas works brown site by the river, both areas where business can thrive in the future, offering employment to local residents which is what the area local plan will be looking at.
On a hot July morning, I met up with Philip by the Beryl Bay at Two Rivers Meet Christchurch, I was keen to find out what plans BCP have for regeneration and employment in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas as we all emerge tentatively from the pandemic, so after hiring out our Beryl Bikes we set off through Christchurch. Stopping by the old gas works site next to the council offices, I pointed out that in a small space of just 500 metres we have both an area of outstanding beauty at Stanpit, the Christchurch Nature Reserve and also the now derelict brownfield site which one day may be up for development.
Cycling down over the bridges past the Castle Ruins and into the High Street I mentioned to Philip that recently in Southampton they have introduced free parking after 6pm in certain council car parks to help encourage business growth in the city. I asked if BCP was considering something similar to help out our High Streets? He said the council have been putting in a tremdious effort to help support our High Streets during the pandemic with bounce back grants and events including the new Festival Coast Live events taking place across the three towns to help encourage people back onto the High Streets. I asked Philip if nature and business can sustainably live side by side? “Absolutely” he said, he went on to say that they had recently met up with the new owners of the land who are
28
BH Living | bhliving.co.uk
On parking though he said that is an interesting question. He went onto say that today the High Street is buzzing and we need to keep that growth going. The council are looking at the possibility of a parking offer which would try to help
@bhlivingdorset
bhlivingdorset
