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Traders fume as council sells Pokesdown's only car park
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| TAT'S NOT ON: Caroline Read of Scribe Tattoo Studio in Pokesdown says the reduction in parking will badly affect local businesses Picture: Corin Messer |
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ANGRY traders have accused council chiefs of sounding
the death knell for Pokes-
down by selling off their only car park.
Retailers claim the decision to sell off the Seabourne Road car park, leaving them without parking for a year, has effectively killed off the area.
Caroline Read, of Scribe Tattoo Studio, says she has already had complaints from customers who had to park up to a mile away.
"Some customers come in for two or three hours at a time and there's absolutely nowhere around here where they can leave their cars for that long.
"It's like a death knell for the area. We've been here for 10 years and chose the site because it was near a bus stop and had parking nearby.
"This area used to be known as Bournemouth's Golden Mile, full of unusual and quirky shops, but now most are shut down and the rest are going to rack and ruin. It's depressing."
And Andrew Hardman, who owns the fishing tackle supply shop 914 Tackle, said: "The residents and traders of Pokesdown constantly feel they are treated with utter contempt by the council and its employees.
"The area is covered with pointless and totally unnecessary yellow lines and we have wardens booking delivery vans.
"Just how are we supposed to do business if customers have nowhere to park?"
Gary Platt, the council's property services manager, said the decision to sell off the car park for affordable housing was made by the council in 2007.
He said Signpost Housing Association will be building 25 flats on the site, along with 17 public car parking spaces.
"Unfortunately, the car park will remain closed during the construction period, but will re-open mid-2009," he said.
"While our records show that the average daily use of Seabourne Road car park has only been five to seven vehicles, we recognise that this will inevitably result in some inconvenience to the people that rely on this car park.
"We know that parking in this area is difficult, although there is roadside parking along some stretches of Christchurch Road and Seabourne Road, as well as some side street parking which is unregulated."
4:00pm Saturday 19th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: alumchineboy, Alumchine on 6:00pm Sat 19 Jul 08
I drove through Boscombe east last saturday early afternoon. I went pass a barbers ( just on the right after the station ) and I could see that there wern't any customers in there. I then drove around for 15 mins trying to find somewhere to park. All of the Christchurch Road spaces were taken and the side roads didnt have any legal spaces for me. I gave up and went to Westbourne. I feel sorry for the traders. Not only do the council charge a huge amount in rates which goes up above the rate of inflation every year just because they are trying to make a living but they seem to want to destroy the high street little shops - maybe they want us all to use their wopnderful (not) castlepoint ?
Isn't it interesting that the council are not the peoples enemy ? Devious, calculating, self important and not to be trusted is my opinion.
I drove through Boscombe east last saturday early afternoon. I went pass a barbers ( just on the right after the station ) and I could see that there wern't any customers in there. I then drove around for 15 mins trying to find somewhere to park. All of the Christchurch Road spaces were taken and the side roads didnt have any legal spaces for me. I gave up and went to Westbourne. I feel sorry for the traders. Not only do the council charge a huge amount in rates which goes up above the rate of inflation every year just because they are trying to make a living but they seem to want to destroy the high street little shops - maybe they want us all to use their wopnderful (not) castlepoint ?
Isn't it interesting that the council are not the peoples enemy ? Devious, calculating, self important and not to be trusted is my opinion.
Posted by: nickboy, West London on 6:15pm Sat 19 Jul 08
[quote][bold]alumchineboy[/bold] wrote:
I drove through Boscombe east last saturday early afternoon. I went pass a barbers ( just on the right after the station ) and I could see that there wern't any customers in there. I then drove around for 15 mins trying to find somewhere to park. All of the Christchurch Road spaces were taken and the side roads didnt have any legal spaces for me. I gave up and went to Westbourne. I feel sorry for the traders. Not only do the council charge a huge amount in rates which goes up above the rate of inflation every year just because they are trying to make a living but they seem to want to destroy the high street little shops - maybe they want us all to use their wopnderful (not) castlepoint ? Isn't it interesting that the council are not the peoples enemy ? Devious, calculating, self important and not to be trusted is my opinion.[/quote] Here Here !n of course , they all want the focus to be on their laughably namesd "Boscombe Spa Village" hoping people will just shop there, if they don't mind stepping over crack heads, alchies and general riff-raff wasters as they do it.
alumchineboy wrote:
I drove through Boscombe east last saturday early afternoon. I went pass a barbers ( just on the right after the station ) and I could see that there wern't any customers in there. I then drove around for 15 mins trying to find somewhere to park. All of the Christchurch Road spaces were taken and the side roads didnt have any legal spaces for me. I gave up and went to Westbourne. I feel sorry for the traders. Not only do the council charge a huge amount in rates which goes up above the rate of inflation every year just because they are trying to make a living but they seem to want to destroy the high street little shops - maybe they want us all to use their wopnderful (not) castlepoint ? Isn't it interesting that the council are not the peoples enemy ? Devious, calculating, self important and not to be trusted is my opinion.
Here Here !n of course , they all want the focus to be on their laughably namesd "Boscombe Spa Village" hoping people will just shop there, if they don't mind stepping over crack heads, alchies and general riff-raff wasters as they do it.
Posted by: beachhut, southbourne on 10:08pm Sat 19 Jul 08
Nick Boy
Boscombe Spa Village is down by the new pier and is not to be confused with The Boscombe where the Police are scarred to approach the rif rafm incase the get hurt or have to complete 3 days of paperwork just to let him/her off. Sorry abouit Pokestown, as I undersatnd it was the for runner to Boscombe and Bournemouth. Some very nice shops but several tatty ones. Why dosn't your traders association do something about your shop fronts. The council will see that if you all care they may think again and give some support. What do you think? Its amazing what a quick wash and brush up can achieve.
Nick Boy
Boscombe Spa Village is down by the new pier and is not to be confused with The Boscombe where the Police are scarred to approach the rif rafm incase the get hurt or have to complete 3 days of paperwork just to let him/her off. Sorry abouit Pokestown, as I undersatnd it was the for runner to Boscombe and Bournemouth. Some very nice shops but several tatty ones. Why dosn't your traders association do something about your shop fronts. The council will see that if you all care they may think again and give some support. What do you think? Its amazing what a quick wash and brush up can achieve.
Posted by: freefall, Poole on 1:09am Sun 20 Jul 08
"the Police are scarred"
My God...Boscome realy HAS got bad, beachhut!!! LOL
"the Police are scarred"
My God...Boscome realy HAS got bad, beachhut!!! LOL
Posted by: roysses, Pokesdown on 1:13am Sun 20 Jul 08
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins.
I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station.
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins.
I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station.
Posted by: roysses, Pokesdown on 1:14am Sun 20 Jul 08
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins.
I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station.
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins.
I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station.
Posted by: HAL101, Bournemouth on 9:27am Sun 20 Jul 08
Can the 'council' sell off public land [bold]without the agreement of the democratically elected councillors[/bold]? If so then the whole situation is [bold]wide open to corruption and fraud[/bold] that would involve council officials and property 'developers' (dealers, often with a second hand car sales background) This whole matter, in a democracy, would be decided by the local people, [italic]including the local businesses[/italic] .
The UK, what a country!
Can the 'council' sell off public land
without the agreement of the democratically elected councillors? If so then the whole situation is
wide open to corruption and fraud that would involve council officials and property 'developers' (dealers, often with a second hand car sales background) This whole matter, in a democracy, would be decided by the local people,
including the local businesses .
The UK, what a country!
Posted by: 2Much, New Forest on 10:28am Sun 20 Jul 08
The council have agreed to 25 flats there, so that's 25 lots of council tax, they're not thinking of the residents, they're thinking of their budgets!
The council have agreed to 25 flats there, so that's 25 lots of council tax, they're not thinking of the residents, they're thinking of their budgets!
Posted by: Trifecta, Southbourne on 3:45pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[bold]"This area used to be known as Bournemouth's Golden Mile"[/bold]
By whom and when? Bournemouth's Golden Shower may be more appropriate.
The car park is full of chavs smoking and drinking and I very rarely see any cars in there anyway. Let it go.
"This area used to be known as Bournemouth's Golden Mile"
By whom and when? Bournemouth's Golden Shower may be more appropriate.
The car park is full of chavs smoking and drinking and I very rarely see any cars in there anyway. Let it go.
Posted by: adrian fudge, boscombe east on 8:21pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]roysses[/bold] wrote:
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins. I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station. [/quote] You are totally right
This car park was rarly used and will be put to better use by providing Social Housing on part of the site and still providing public parking on the rest of the site
Because people will not walk this car park is just far enough off the main road for drivers not to use it
With regards to who took the decision to sell it was Councillors after giving carefull concideration as to the best use of its assets.Making use of underused car parks and developing the air space over them came from a recomendation in the Car Park review undertaken in early 2002
roysses wrote:
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins. I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station.
You are totally right
This car park was rarly used and will be put to better use by providing Social Housing on part of the site and still providing public parking on the rest of the site
Because people will not walk this car park is just far enough off the main road for drivers not to use it
With regards to who took the decision to sell it was Councillors after giving carefull concideration as to the best use of its assets.Making use of underused car parks and developing the air space over them came from a recomendation in the Car Park review undertaken in early 2002
Posted by: Robert Ratcliffe, poole on 8:51pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]HAL101[/bold] wrote:
Can the 'council' sell off public land [bold]without the agreement of the democratically elected councillors[/bold]? If so then the whole situation is [bold]wide open to corruption and fraud[/bold] that would involve council officials and property 'developers' (dealers, often with a second hand car sales background) This whole matter, in a democracy, would be decided by the local people, [italic]including the local businesses[/italic] . The UK, what a country! [/quote] I will help you pack.....
HAL101 wrote:
Can the 'council' sell off public land without the agreement of the democratically elected councillors? If so then the whole situation is wide open to corruption and fraud that would involve council officials and property 'developers' (dealers, often with a second hand car sales background) This whole matter, in a democracy, would be decided by the local people, including the local businesses . The UK, what a country!
I will help you pack.....
Posted by: HAL101, Bournemouth on 8:08am Mon 21 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Robert Ratcliffe[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]HAL101[/bold] wrote: Can the 'council' sell off public land [bold]without the agreement of the democratically elected councillors[/bold]? If so then the whole situation is [bold]wide open to corruption and fraud[/bold] that would involve council officials and property 'developers' (dealers, often with a second hand car sales background) This whole matter, in a democracy, would be decided by the local people, [italic]including the local businesses[/italic] . The UK, what a country! [/quote] I will help you pack.....[/quote] Hang on, I'll get my back pack. No, you can't come with me. Put your rat pack away.
Robert Ratcliffe wrote:
HAL101 wrote: Can the 'council' sell off public land without the agreement of the democratically elected councillors? If so then the whole situation is wide open to corruption and fraud that would involve council officials and property 'developers' (dealers, often with a second hand car sales background) This whole matter, in a democracy, would be decided by the local people, including the local businesses . The UK, what a country!
I will help you pack.....
Hang on, I'll get my back pack. No, you can't come with me. Put your rat pack away.
Posted by: RichT, Christchurch on 12:21pm Mon 21 Jul 08
The state of Pokesdown station doesn't encourage visitors to the area either. It always seems tatty and run-down when I go through it. A lack of working lifts at the station for wheelchairs and pushchairs doesn't help either.
The state of Pokesdown station doesn't encourage visitors to the area either. It always seems tatty and run-down when I go through it. A lack of working lifts at the station for wheelchairs and pushchairs doesn't help either.
Posted by: anton, uk on 10:39am Tue 22 Jul 08
Greedy, wasteful and unfit to serve the public.
Greedy, wasteful and unfit to serve the public.
Posted by: pokesdownliveandwork, pokesdown on 8:58am Fri 15 Aug 08
[quote][bold]roysses[/bold] wrote:
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins. I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station. [/quote] obviously not very informed. When taking orders for leagues and associations for upto £4000.00 of trophies having upto 6 committee members choosing hundreds of trophies, I think a few minutes would be slightly too short a time. Lots of people spend a long time choosing how best to spend thier members money. Resulting in stays of anything upto 3 hours. They all need somewhere to park !!
roysses wrote:
That car park regularly had only three or four cars left in it. Those few vehicles of local shop customers can be parked in Seabourne Road, Christchurch Rd, Hannington Road, Morely Road and Roseberry Road. Say one car in each road would solve this "major" problem. I really wish the town sometimes thought as much about the 25% of the population, pedestrians, as it does about the car owners. Very very few people being tattooed stay in the shop for 3 hours. No customers in the angling shop and engravers stay for more than a few minutes. Not many in the hairdressers stay for 30 mins. I believe the majority of the cars left in that car park belong to commuters from Pokesdown Station.
obviously not very informed. When taking orders for leagues and associations for upto £4000.00 of trophies having upto 6 committee members choosing hundreds of trophies, I think a few minutes would be slightly too short a time. Lots of people spend a long time choosing how best to spend thier members money. Resulting in stays of anything upto 3 hours. They all need somewhere to park !!
Posted by: Geoffrey, Bournemouth on 12:30pm Tue 26 Aug 08
"ANGRY traders" should simply club together to buy the site and continue to run it as a car park, instead of moaning.
"ANGRY traders" should simply club together to buy the site and continue to run it as a car park, instead of moaning.
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