£50m West Central cinema and restaurant scheme gets go-ahead (From Thisisdorset)
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£50m West Central cinema and restaurant scheme gets go-ahead
9:13am Thursday 27th September 2012 in Latest By Melanie Vass
COMPLEX: An artist’s impression of the West Central development
A SHOCK U-turn has resulted in a £50m cinema and restaurant scheme being given the go-ahead – despite Bournemouth council’s best efforts to block it.
The council reluctantly backed down in its opposition to the West Central scheme planned for the former bus station site at Exeter Road, after being warned it was likely to lose the battle and end up with a massive legal bill.
The developer Licet said it was delighted with the decision and would start building the five-level entertainment complex, housing a multiplex cinema, family restaurants and bistros, next year. It claims the project could create 300 jobs.
Chris Dymond, director of Licet Holdings Ltd, said that lettings for eight key units were all either under offer or in final detailed negotiations.
A number of occupiers would be new to Bournemouth, he added.
“The important operators have been behind us all the way and now the revised design has been sanctioned, the paperwork can be finalised and the momentum is snowballing,” he said.
“After all this time it will be great to get started and to bring a new all-weather family facility to the town centre.”
The council’s U-turn is the latest twist in a long-running saga, which began when the West Central scheme was first granted planning permission in 2007.
Bournemouth council also originally agreed to sell the developer Licet a small strip of land necessary for the scheme – but earlier this year the council changed its mind and said it wanted to see a bus station built on the prime site instead.
It formally refused Licet’s £300,000 offer for the land and council leader John Beesley stated publicly that this effectively killed off the West Central scheme.
However, Licet refused to go away, opting instead to amend its plans to exclude the council’s land. This amended planning application was due to go to appeal but on Monday night, councillors were warned they had no real grounds to oppose Licet.
The council’s planning board was told a government inspector had examined the council’s Town Centre Area Action Plan, which the council was relying on to refuse the Licet application, and made several key changes. In particular, the inspector recommended removing the requirement for any development at Exeter Road to include a bus station.
“Failing to take proper account of the Inspector’s proposed modifications... is likely to be viewed as unreasonable behaviour on the council’s part by an appeal inspector, potentially leading to an award of costs against the council,” officers warned.
“Bearing in mind that the appeal is to be dealt with at a public inquiry which is likely to be scheduled to last for several days and involve the instruction of expert witnesses and legal advice and representation, these costs are likely to be substantial.”
Blow to similar schemes
THE decision is great news for Licet – but is a blow for two other developers seeking to build similar leisure complexes in the town centre.
In approving its amended planning application, councillors have handed Licet a massive advantage in Bournemouth’s ongoing “cinema wars”.
Competing against Licet to be the first to build a new cinema multiplex in Bournemouth is Trevor Osborne, who hopes to build a cinema and restaurant complex next to the Pavilion Theatre, and a private pension fund, which is seeking to build a £100m cinema, flats, restaurants, hotel and supermarket scheme on the Winter Gardens.
While Bournemouth could potentially sustain two multiplex cinemas, it is unlikely there would be enough demand for three in the town centre.
The Nautilus scheme on Westover Road, pictured, has planning permission and a pre-let agreement with the Odeon cinema but has not yet secured all the tenants it needs to proceed.
The Winter Gardens scheme is at a very early stage, with a planning application submitted but not yet considered.
Nigel Hedges, chair of Bournemouth’s chamber of trade, said: “Anything that increases Bournemouth’s offer and employment opportunities on sterile sites such as open surface car parks is to be celebrated.”
Comments(95)
Upkeep
says...
9:21am Thu 27 Sep 12
Family restaurants? What family in their right mind is going to venture into the Town centre of an evening.
Upkeep
says...
9:21am Thu 27 Sep 12
The Engineer wrote:Agreed
Not needed, we don't want it! Time to start a boycott campaign, this site should be a bus station!
jobsworthwatch
says...
9:23am Thu 27 Sep 12
Pants88
says...
9:26am Thu 27 Sep 12
e venues excerpt the pavilion? I can't wait for this! The town centre needs something like this!
Daffodil2
says...
9:36am Thu 27 Sep 12
Pants88 wrote:Agreed
Would they reject it? Or would it just be the stiffs who'd rather there be no entertainment/leisur
e venues excerpt the pavilion? I can't wait for this! The town centre needs something like this!
jobsworthwatch
says...
9:40am Thu 27 Sep 12
Daffodil2 wrote:But not there, put it on the winter gardens site and put a bus station there in order to get buses out of the town centre!
Pants88 wrote:Agreed
Would they reject it? Or would it just be the stiffs who'd rather there be no entertainment/leisur
e venues excerpt the pavilion? I can't wait for this! The town centre needs something like this!
Cmdr Kryll
says...
9:49am Thu 27 Sep 12
wonderway
says...
9:59am Thu 27 Sep 12
. It formally refused Licet’s £300,000 offer for the land and council leader John Beesley stated publicly that this effectively killed off the West Central scheme.
andyjb10
says...
10:09am Thu 27 Sep 12
The Engineer wrote:Says who?
Not needed, we don't want it! Time to start a boycott campaign, this site should be a bus station!
The town does need it. This is the kind of development, that if done well, will hopefully attact families and couples in to town in the evening.
Also remember, this is a private development company who have no attachment to the council. Therefore no doubt this will be done well.
andyjb10
says...
10:11am Thu 27 Sep 12
wonderway wrote:No doubt Licet will now offer the council less than the original figure of £300k just to teach them for mucking them about.
Seems Beesley gets it WRONG again mans a joke lives in never never land then wakes up to reality and then hides away in his dark cupboard ....................
. It formally refused Licet’s £300,000 offer for the land and council leader John Beesley stated publicly that this effectively killed off the West Central scheme.
Bunch of clowns
Oldcastle
says...
10:12am Thu 27 Sep 12
allornothing
says...
10:13am Thu 27 Sep 12
Ivan Opinion
says...
10:16am Thu 27 Sep 12
beachcomber1
says...
10:36am Thu 27 Sep 12
HRH of Boscombe
says...
11:05am Thu 27 Sep 12
Oldcastle wrote:There are a couple left. Barking and Clapham are the only two I know of though.
I hope one of the restaurants will be a Wimpy.
oldharryrocks!
says...
11:07am Thu 27 Sep 12
TheDistrict
says...
11:24am Thu 27 Sep 12
oldharryrocks! wrote:Wrong, the Odeon/ABC will be moving across the Westover Road to the new complex next to the Pavilion. Plans are already afoot.
It wont be another cinema it will be THE cinema, the others are closing down
.
I cannot see why Licet cannot use the Winter Gardens location for its shops and restaurants, and leave out the cinema, unless they do not go into competition with the established cinemas.
.
This would allow the old bus station to be refurbished back into an up to date coach station and bus terminus, which in turn would bring the visitors into Bournemouth, rather than the filthy degrading area called the interchange.
.
Why cant the bunch of non entertaining clowns in the Town hall see this. We will have a bussling family orientated town centre, with a purpose built public transport centre.
.
What the town needs.
bmthlad69
says...
11:25am Thu 27 Sep 12
A new complex would be great, it will save me having to travel to Poole to use the Empire Cinema (great cinema).
This is what the town needs. I would rather have this than a load of new bars/pubs.
I can't see why people are moaning about this.
robsmith123
says...
11:33am Thu 27 Sep 12
you can never have too many hats or small fluffy animals
Noel.
says...
11:34am Thu 27 Sep 12
Upkeep wrote:Surely the town centre has been suffering because there where no facilities to attract families, only clubs to attract drunken yobs.
Another Cinema ? Why ?
Family restaurants? What family in their right mind is going to venture into the Town centre of an evening.
It probably would be better on the old Winter Gardens site, and make this a bus station which is also what the town needs.
Why can a Government Inspector change the Council's Area Action Plan to allow developers to build where they want not where is best for the town?
BmthNewshound
says...
11:50am Thu 27 Sep 12
.
So now the Council has potentially, if Lincet opt for their revised plans, been left with a small pocket of land which, if the scheme goes ahead, will be worth considerably less than the £300,000 the Council refused and they will still not have solved the problem of what to do about bus congestion along Gervis Place........ nice one Beesley, another failure to add to the list.
.
The Echo’s comment that Bournemouth town centre could potentially sustain two multiplex cinemas is I believe wrong. Both schemes rely on not just the cinema’s but also the successful letting of multiple commercial units earmarked for “family restaurants” etc. The exclusion of pubs/clubs from the permitted uses significantly reduces the number of potential occupiers. Just how many Pizza Express, Nando’s and Wagamama’s can Bournemouth sustain. It is likely that if a second scheme goes ahead before demand has been proven that the town could easily end up with a situation where one or both schemes fail to be commercially viable which would be a disaster.
.
Note for HRHBoscombe and Oldcastle – there is a Wimpy in Swanage.
Upkeep
says...
11:53am Thu 27 Sep 12
allornothing wrote:This is exactly the point. It will just have the usual chains....Nandos, Frankie and Bennys, Kfc, Pizza Hut.....and all the other dross. Boring, boring, boring.
As long as they open a Nando's I'm all for this! The Odeon and ABC cinemas are outdated now, this will allow for Westover Road to be redeveloped maybe into a nice super club! Exactly what Bournemouth needs!
It will be just another soulless clone of every other "retail" development in every other town in this country.
Come on, you know`ll it be crap.
frarog
says...
11:53am Thu 27 Sep 12
jobsworthwatch wrote:Agreed!
Daffodil2 wrote:But not there, put it on the winter gardens site and put a bus station there in order to get buses out of the town centre!
Pants88 wrote:Agreed
Would they reject it? Or would it just be the stiffs who'd rather there be no entertainment/leisur
e venues excerpt the pavilion? I can't wait for this! The town centre needs something like this!
frarog
says...
11:57am Thu 27 Sep 12
Noel. wrote:Too right! Bournemouth is meant to be a tourist resort and families are already being put off by the drunken yobs filling the town centre in the evenings.
Upkeep wrote:Surely the town centre has been suffering because there where no facilities to attract families, only clubs to attract drunken yobs.
Another Cinema ? Why ?
Family restaurants? What family in their right mind is going to venture into the Town centre of an evening.
It probably would be better on the old Winter Gardens site, and make this a bus station which is also what the town needs.
Why can a Government Inspector change the Council's Area Action Plan to allow developers to build where they want not where is best for the town?
Humf
says...
12:00pm Thu 27 Sep 12
HRH of Boscombe wrote:You don't have to go that far, there's one in Swanage that hasn't changed in the last forty years ! Mind you, neither has Swanage.
Oldcastle wrote:There are a couple left. Barking and Clapham are the only two I know of though.
I hope one of the restaurants will be a Wimpy.
HRH of Boscombe
says...
12:16pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Humf wrote:Ha good to know.
HRH of Boscombe wrote:You don't have to go that far, there's one in Swanage that hasn't changed in the last forty years ! Mind you, neither has Swanage.Oldcastle wrote: I hope one of the restaurants will be a Wimpy.There are a couple left. Barking and Clapham are the only two I know of though.
Azphreal
says...
12:19pm Thu 27 Sep 12
freedom for pokesdown
says...
12:22pm Thu 27 Sep 12
But at least the council won't be selling off anymore of the park.
mpdor
says...
12:23pm Thu 27 Sep 12
TFan
says...
12:27pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Upkeep wrote:Unfortunately I fear you'll be proved right.
allornothing wrote: As long as they open a Nando's I'm all for this! The Odeon and ABC cinemas are outdated now, this will allow for Westover Road to be redeveloped maybe into a nice super club! Exactly what Bournemouth needs!This is exactly the point. It will just have the usual chains....Nandos, Frankie and Bennys, Kfc, Pizza Hut.....and all the other dross. Boring, boring, boring. It will be just another soulless clone of every other "retail" development in every other town in this country. Come on, you know`ll it be crap.
The restaurants will likely be the usual suspect chain brands.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with these but it would be nice to see some decent independant eateries selling a quality product.
There is a sad lack of taste in this country (in all senses of the word) and we all seem to be happy to be spoon fed the same rubbish wherever we go.
jobsworthwatch
says...
12:32pm Thu 27 Sep 12
As soon as the flames were out on the old bus station they should have set about building a new one!
winton50
says...
12:35pm Thu 27 Sep 12
mpdor wrote:The problem is that to get from the interchange to the town centre you need to get a bus which kind of defeats the object really.
It does seem stupid that in this day and age there is no main bus station in the town centre, i know the interchange is supposed to be one but that is more coach than bus, look at the mess in the town centre with buses all over the place, that said people including myself have been calling out for family entertainment in the town centre, so this scheme should go some way to providing modern facilities that families and the like can use, the council shouls till concentrate on trying to find a site for the bus station, however it would seem that the best site has now gone for good, where else could a bus station be errected?
muscliffman
says...
12:49pm Thu 27 Sep 12
We have a modern empty town-centre building that had within it a mix of Cinema, restaurants, bars and fast food outlets, it cost the taxpayers about £9million to date to acquire and now stands completely empty. Apparently (perhaps 'allegedly') unable to attract any renewed but quite similar use.
It awaits expensive tax-payer funded demolition and we will be left, until the private developer snaps the site up from the us for a song, with an empty building site (and a temporary Tent) at a further cost of circa £2.5million.
Just around the corner we have an already empty (best as, for more than thirty years) prime site that the good people of Bournemouth would like to see very belatedly restored to the principle role of a decent coach and bus station.
But no, after all the hollow speak from Beasley and co we are indeed going to have a Cinema, restaurants and fast food outlets there - sounds a bit familiar?
(For most, if not all, of these planned 'family attractions' you may refer to them as booze outlets because doubtless this aspect will feature repeatedly in the detail.)
Meanwhile over the road on the Wintergardens site and opposite the now empty Pier building alongside the Pavilion we are also being promised....multi-Ci
nemas, restaurants and fast food outlets (E.G. Even more booze outlets).
None of this adds up or makes any sense to me, by all means take Bournemouth forward but for goodness sake not like this.
New jobs? Where? For every new establishment it is already acknowledged that an old one will close! Is anyone taking into account what this will do to Westover Road? It is going to be empty.
What is happening to this Town cannot be gross incompetence any longer, it must be obvious to anyone that far, far worse might be going on.
Bournemouth deserves so much better than this latest fiasco.
I am convinced most of us want a b****y bus station back on this Exeter Road site and we want the 'ex-Imax' Waterfront building retained for the very type of wet-weather tourist uses proposed for here - but since when has it been anything to do with what we want?
farigola32
says...
12:55pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Bob49
says...
1:21pm Thu 27 Sep 12
But that someone will not get anywhere near being selected to stand for the council, nevermind being elected.
The only vison most councillors and developers have is the one across the bay from either Boscombe seafront development or the proposed 'comprehensive redevelopment' of the Imax/Bath Road carpark site.
ps anyone daft enough to think familes are going to venture into Bournemouth Town centre on a weekend night because the cinema has been moved is living in dreamland.
Jim'llFixIt
says...
1:22pm Thu 27 Sep 12
bmthlad69 wrote:Agreed
The old bournemouth cinema's (odeon & abc) are rubbish and outdated (and overpriced) and I refuse to go there.
A new complex would be great, it will save me having to travel to Poole to use the Empire Cinema (great cinema).
This is what the town needs. I would rather have this than a load of new bars/pubs.
I can't see why people are moaning about this.
Adrian XX
says...
1:30pm Thu 27 Sep 12
TFan wrote:I agree as well. I doubt there will be any quality restaurants here: just boring chains serving fat people high-energy-density food.
Upkeep wrote:Unfortunately I fear you'll be proved right.
allornothing wrote: As long as they open a Nando's I'm all for this! The Odeon and ABC cinemas are outdated now, this will allow for Westover Road to be redeveloped maybe into a nice super club! Exactly what Bournemouth needs!This is exactly the point. It will just have the usual chains....Nandos, Frankie and Bennys, Kfc, Pizza Hut.....and all the other dross. Boring, boring, boring. It will be just another soulless clone of every other "retail" development in every other town in this country. Come on, you know`ll it be crap.
The restaurants will likely be the usual suspect chain brands.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with these but it would be nice to see some decent independant eateries selling a quality product.
There is a sad lack of taste in this country (in all senses of the word) and we all seem to be happy to be spoon fed the same rubbish wherever we go.
I expect the bistros will be an excuse for late license, high-music-volume - and therefore fast drinking - venues.
JamesGHB
says...
1:36pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Plus, a decent cinema is sorely needed. The existing offering is awful. I choose to go to the Empire in Poole, even though I live within walking distance of the Odeon/ABC.
andyjb10
says...
1:37pm Thu 27 Sep 12
TheDistrict wrote:Because Licet don't own the Winter Gardens site so therefore cannot develop it, fairly simple really.
oldharryrocks! wrote:Wrong, the Odeon/ABC will be moving across the Westover Road to the new complex next to the Pavilion. Plans are already afoot.
It wont be another cinema it will be THE cinema, the others are closing down
.
I cannot see why Licet cannot use the Winter Gardens location for its shops and restaurants, and leave out the cinema, unless they do not go into competition with the established cinemas.
.
This would allow the old bus station to be refurbished back into an up to date coach station and bus terminus, which in turn would bring the visitors into Bournemouth, rather than the filthy degrading area called the interchange.
.
Why cant the bunch of non entertaining clowns in the Town hall see this. We will have a bussling family orientated town centre, with a purpose built public transport centre.
.
What the town needs.
It would also be pretty **** hard to refurbish the bus station seeing as it burnt down 30 odd years ago.
dorset707
says...
1:44pm Thu 27 Sep 12
If all of these "improvements" go ahead we will end up with Gervis Road looking sad as the remaining family entertainment venues finally leave the town centre. OK the cimemas may be outdated but they are always busy which says something about how people love to come to town! If it ain't broke don't fix it - as they did to the skating rink, swimming pool, Winter Gardens and bus station.
farigola32
says...
1:56pm Thu 27 Sep 12
JamesGHB wrote:A bus station should be 'the hub' of town -giving easy access for all, instead of hunting for a place in a remaining car park - if you can still find one! No, families WILL NOT venture into the town centre at night just for more of the same - the complex will probably simply increase the night time problems and it certainly won't be a place for families to be. they may try it once - they won't do it twice. No repeat business for Bournemouth will see it rocketing down even further - we need to offer something different and better for families than other towns. Also, what about the grey pound - lots of disposable income there - but go into town at night - you must be joking!
A new cinema and family dining complex should be a great boost for the town. A bus station, while useful, only really serves to make the town centre look neater, but this development will bring business, jobs and families back into the town centre at night.
Plus, a decent cinema is sorely needed. The existing offering is awful. I choose to go to the Empire in Poole, even though I live within walking distance of the Odeon/ABC.
Bourne1979
says...
1:58pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Ganmor
says...
2:09pm Thu 27 Sep 12
bmthlad69
says...
2:10pm Thu 27 Sep 12
farigola32 wrote:There is no use in having a nice 'Bus station' if there is nothing in the town.
JamesGHB wrote:A bus station should be 'the hub' of town -giving easy access for all, instead of hunting for a place in a remaining car park - if you can still find one! No, families WILL NOT venture into the town centre at night just for more of the same - the complex will probably simply increase the night time problems and it certainly won't be a place for families to be. they may try it once - they won't do it twice. No repeat business for Bournemouth will see it rocketing down even further - we need to offer something different and better for families than other towns. Also, what about the grey pound - lots of disposable income there - but go into town at night - you must be joking!
A new cinema and family dining complex should be a great boost for the town. A bus station, while useful, only really serves to make the town centre look neater, but this development will bring business, jobs and families back into the town centre at night.
Plus, a decent cinema is sorely needed. The existing offering is awful. I choose to go to the Empire in Poole, even though I live within walking distance of the Odeon/ABC.
And why do people keep stating that no families will venture out at night? Cinema etc can be done in the day time.
I personally believe a new cinema complex would be good for the town and will bring more people to it. Rather than going to Tower park.
Ivan Opinion
says...
2:26pm Thu 27 Sep 12
TheDistrict
says...
2:27pm Thu 27 Sep 12
andyjb10 wrote:I think you know Andy what I was getting at..................
TheDistrict wrote:Because Licet don't own the Winter Gardens site so therefore cannot develop it, fairly simple really.
oldharryrocks! wrote:Wrong, the Odeon/ABC will be moving across the Westover Road to the new complex next to the Pavilion. Plans are already afoot.
It wont be another cinema it will be THE cinema, the others are closing down
.
I cannot see why Licet cannot use the Winter Gardens location for its shops and restaurants, and leave out the cinema, unless they do not go into competition with the established cinemas.
.
This would allow the old bus station to be refurbished back into an up to date coach station and bus terminus, which in turn would bring the visitors into Bournemouth, rather than the filthy degrading area called the interchange.
.
Why cant the bunch of non entertaining clowns in the Town hall see this. We will have a bussling family orientated town centre, with a purpose built public transport centre.
.
What the town needs.
It would also be pretty **** hard to refurbish the bus station seeing as it burnt down 30 odd years ago.
..........lol
outlawselfinterest
says...
2:37pm Thu 27 Sep 12
.
It finishes off the truly DAFT idea of recreating a 1950s style idea of a town centre Bus Station.
.
Do any of those who promote a town centre bus station know of any successful one anywhere in Britain? If you do - say so!
.
Buses need to go where passengers want to go. That is to the shops, businesses and leisure activities. NOT to some dark and soulless cavern with long passages.
.
Yes, true, the Interchange at the rail station is not ideal, but it is for LONG DISTANCE coach travel, as trains are also for longer distances. There will always be a need for LOCAL links from there to the town centre.
.
Sure, Gervis Place needs improvements, but consigning the LOCAL buses to an off-road shed is certainly not the answer.
.
Holes Bay Curve
says...
3:15pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Somewhere else for the Big Issue sellers to loiter..............
............
MonsterRavingCommonsenseParty
says...
3:19pm Thu 27 Sep 12
We need more of these.
Hengistbury Head is in dire need of one of these complexy things too....Id love a waggamamma on the head....!
bornINpoole69
says...
3:21pm Thu 27 Sep 12
How long has it been?
I used to go bus spotting there as a child and loved the Royal Blue coaches "downstairs".
kirsty365
says...
3:22pm Thu 27 Sep 12
farigola32 wrote:Def agree with this comment. Why does the council and developers not seem to see that Bournemouth has NOTHING indoors to offer other than the aquarium. We have no pool, no bowling, no skating apart from at xmas. I think we can all see for ourselves the need for it with this weeks weather.
So just how many FAMILIES will flock to Bournemouth when this complex with cinemas, restaurants and bistros is opened -if it ever happens? What about the families and others who would like to actually DO something ( swim, bowling, skate, soft play, dance, basketball, handball etc, whatever - rather than sit inanely gawping in yet another cinema or stuffing faces with yet more junk food -those seem to be the only options proposed in this 'wonderful' complex to be built on the bus station? Yes, I know some of those facilities are in the area but not actually in town - someone with some vision could really make a difference in Bournemouth. Prefer to have a decent, accessible bus station again, but it seems we have no further choice! Ok, ready for the fallout.....
I am all for development and progression but it has to be beneficial to the area - and I can't see how this will be. Its still not giving us what we need.
I still cannot figure out how on earth Bournemouth won 'resort of the year'!!
funky_elephant
says...
3:56pm Thu 27 Sep 12
The cries for a swimming pool and/or ice rink are in vain as neither are commercially viable in the current economic climate. Both are expensive to install and operate and both lost money when they were last open in the town.
Ultimately outside developers have to return a profit - it's called business - and in a recession we should be grateful for anyone willing to provide this investment.
Humf
says...
3:56pm Thu 27 Sep 12
I would love to see more activites that would make Bournemouth more of a family resort again rather than eating, drinking or shopping outlets but I think it would be very unrealistic to assume that the council would subsidise any swimming pool, entertainment especially when they've just blown lots of money trying to stop it.
As with Wetherspoons, Tescos and other monster companies who appeal, appeal, appeal planning decisions they have the money to sit back and wait - I don't know why councils even bother to reject these sort of applications because they go through, in the end , largely unchanged to the original application.
And I agree with the question "how did Bournemouth win resort of the year" - must have been judged on the beach as there's little else other than bars to entertain people.
EGHH
says...
4:02pm Thu 27 Sep 12
I'm feed up as a 60 year old hearing those in a similar age range always moaning about progress or change in the town. Its the 21st Century for God's sake!!
nat-365
says...
4:50pm Thu 27 Sep 12
who is 'we' . ? because i think its a good scheme , westover road needs bulldozing ,we cant live in the past for ever
anyone saying people wont come into the town centre at night are not exactly very bright ,they already do and to the
pavilion - stop pretending that the area aroung the gardens is a cauldren of problems because its nothing of the sort and you get lots of families and older people out at the shows both there and the BIC - many of the posters on here just do not know anything about the town centre and how it is at night - speak for yourselves because i think its a great development ,long overdue and will finally clean up that area
susi.m
says...
4:58pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Hope Im wrong - but I really dont think so.
spooki
says...
5:04pm Thu 27 Sep 12
The tourists & foreign students would be in there and not milling about standing in doorways having arguments and generally getting in the way.
A cinema that doesn't smell with a non-sticky floor would be nice, also perhaps a bowling alley NOT tucked down some back street? But we surely don't need more restaurants or bars?
The cynical of us could think that a bus station would be beneficial which is why we're not getting one. Perhaps W & D or Transdev could get involved?
MrPitiful
says...
5:08pm Thu 27 Sep 12
It would be nice if the developers could give an idea of which retailers/caterers will be involved asap - at least so there's no more silly speculation amongst Bournemouth locals who - let's be honest - the majority of which are scared of any kind of change & still wish they could get a smoky bus down to the bottom of Richmond Hill to get an Ice-cream from Fortes!
It would also be nice if some of the restaurants were independent/individu
al as opposed to chains like Pizza Hut etc. Nothing wrong with chains but we already have 'em & something new & ( & shock horror, different!) should be welcome.
One last thought - why do so many people hanker for the out-dated 1970's concept of a bus station? Especially on this site? Less & less towns have a central bus station these days. A family-friendly town centre that we all want should be a safe & clean one. Bus stations in built-up town centres also mean pollution, weirdos hanging round begging for "bus fare home" & general untidyness. If you don't believe me, spend half an hour down the one in Poole!
I agree that the town centre should be accessible by bus for those who have to use buses as their only means of transport but unfortunately folks, we are in the 21st century now. Bring buses in & have a centralised stopping place by all means but let that be it - get the buses in, get the people on & off & get the buses out. Less congestion, less pollution & easier for everyone.
I'm glad that this is going ahead & I also would like the development of the other sites - Imax, Winter Gardens & Pavilion/Westover to go ahead as well. No point in standing still as a town, especially when through changes like these we could all benefit.
woby_tide
says...
5:29pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Still don't see what the excitement is though. Were bus stations better in the olden days? Or did people go somewhere else for entertainment?
RetailTherapy
says...
5:41pm Thu 27 Sep 12
People have to understand that the idea of a town centre for shopping is less appealing with paid car parking.
It needs to be redeveloped to attract more visitors and tourists who are not coming to the town to get drunk in one of the many pubs and clubs.
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
5:51pm Thu 27 Sep 12
HRH of Boscombe wrote:And arrive by steam train right to the High St! Take note Bournemouth, get some character and a 'unique selling point' like the trolleybuses you got rid of. For the cost of an Imax you could have brought a green transport system back, worthy of this century. People would come from all over the world to see buses powered by wind turbines and solar panel farms.People like quirky old stuff too, I think they're a bit fed up with multiple Nando's and antiseptic polished marble floors. Why not small units with entrepeneurs serving fresh Dorset local produce? Have a look up the road at how Wimborne has changed in the last 5 years foodie wise-lots of great little independants.
Humf wrote:Ha good to know.
HRH of Boscombe wrote:You don't have to go that far, there's one in Swanage that hasn't changed in the last forty years ! Mind you, neither has Swanage.Oldcastle wrote: I hope one of the restaurants will be a Wimpy.There are a couple left. Barking and Clapham are the only two I know of though.
O'Reilly
says...
6:53pm Thu 27 Sep 12
jobsworthwatch wrote:We are all owned by the Corporation which owns our Birth Certificates...ie the person you are dealing with from authority...they are a person, you own a person (your STRAWMAN name) geddit?
If put to a local referendum I suspect the people of Bournemouth would overwhelmingly reject it! Time for some Swiss style democracy!
O'Reilly
says...
7:00pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Ivan Opinion wrote:As an old **** I agree with you. Life goes on.....but not for some Folks.
Guys - Bournemouth Needs money put into it and new ' young' and entreprenuerial ideas - anything that can create jobs and new income streams for the town simply has to be a good thing... The next generation will not be able to carve out careers and income on what there is on offer today -- Things have to change. Truly, its as simple as that.
Upkeep
says...
7:05pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Felicity1
says...
7:10pm Thu 27 Sep 12
Dibbles2
says...
7:19pm Thu 27 Sep 12
bmthlad69 wrote:And they smell too! The cinemas that is and not the moaners or possibly both!
The old bournemouth cinema's (odeon & abc) are rubbish and outdated (and overpriced) and I refuse to go there.
A new complex would be great, it will save me having to travel to Poole to use the Empire Cinema (great cinema).
This is what the town needs. I would rather have this than a load of new bars/pubs.
I can't see why people are moaning about this.
manyogie
says...
7:20pm Thu 27 Sep 12
A massive investment, and promoted by a comic book cover, come off it, CGI it in situ so we can see what it will look like
whataboutthat
says...
8:28pm Thu 27 Sep 12
whataboutthat
says...
8:31pm Thu 27 Sep 12
susi.m wrote:Go back to mumsnet susi.
I believe that this development will lower the tone of Bournemouth even more than present. You only need to look at how dreadful Tower Park is. Full of bad quality food outlets and gangs of rough looking teenager hanging around looking like they go to schools that never issue any homework or care if they do their homework.
Hope Im wrong - but I really dont think so.
ragj195
says...
8:59pm Thu 27 Sep 12
MrPitiful wrote:Good post. The town centre needs something like this to attract families to come in and spend money. A bus station caters for people who want to come to town, sit in Beales and take three hours to drink one cup of tea.
I think this is a good idea in principle & will certainly make better use of the land - at the minute it is nothing more than a half-used car-park at best & somewhere for the local headbangers to pee in the dark. Also, the effort of a mural on the side of 60 million postcards is an eyesore & does nothing for the area either.
It would be nice if the developers could give an idea of which retailers/caterers will be involved asap - at least so there's no more silly speculation amongst Bournemouth locals who - let's be honest - the majority of which are scared of any kind of change & still wish they could get a smoky bus down to the bottom of Richmond Hill to get an Ice-cream from Fortes!
It would also be nice if some of the restaurants were independent/individu
al as opposed to chains like Pizza Hut etc. Nothing wrong with chains but we already have 'em & something new & ( & shock horror, different!) should be welcome.
One last thought - why do so many people hanker for the out-dated 1970's concept of a bus station? Especially on this site? Less & less towns have a central bus station these days. A family-friendly town centre that we all want should be a safe & clean one. Bus stations in built-up town centres also mean pollution, weirdos hanging round begging for "bus fare home" & general untidyness. If you don't believe me, spend half an hour down the one in Poole!
I agree that the town centre should be accessible by bus for those who have to use buses as their only means of transport but unfortunately folks, we are in the 21st century now. Bring buses in & have a centralised stopping place by all means but let that be it - get the buses in, get the people on & off & get the buses out. Less congestion, less pollution & easier for everyone.
I'm glad that this is going ahead & I also would like the development of the other sites - Imax, Winter Gardens & Pavilion/Westover to go ahead as well. No point in standing still as a town, especially when through changes like these we could all benefit.
whataboutthat
says...
9:59pm Thu 27 Sep 12
s-pb2
says...
11:27pm Thu 27 Sep 12
MrPitiful
says...
12:09am Fri 28 Sep 12
Nothing wrong with my keyboard at all. The layout of my comment is down to the Echo website technology I'm afraid.
By the way, please explain why my ideas are silly - giving examples and reasoning is always a good intelligent way forward in any debate as opposed to the odd random retort here and there.
Phixer
says...
1:27am Fri 28 Sep 12
mpdor wrote:Somewhere at Lansdowne or from there towards the pier would be the best compromise. At least it would be closer to the shops and beach.
It does seem stupid that in this day and age there is no main bus station in the town centre, i know the interchange is supposed to be one but that is more coach than bus, look at the mess in the town centre with buses all over the place, that said people including myself have been calling out for family entertainment in the town centre, so this scheme should go some way to providing modern facilities that families and the like can use, the council shouls till concentrate on trying to find a site for the bus station, however it would seem that the best site has now gone for good, where else could a bus station be errected?
How about a tram link from the station, down Old Christchurch Road, up through the Triangle to Westbourne?
Without knowing the current situation, what would stop a bus station being built on the Winter Gardens site?
corozin
says...
1:30am Fri 28 Sep 12
Phixer
says...
1:33am Fri 28 Sep 12
nat-365 wrote:Would be even better without that gastly concrete carbuncle flyover at Pier Approach.
why are people saying 'we dont want it' .
who is 'we' . ? because i think its a good scheme , westover road needs bulldozing ,we cant live in the past for ever
anyone saying people wont come into the town centre at night are not exactly very bright ,they already do and to the
pavilion - stop pretending that the area aroung the gardens is a cauldren of problems because its nothing of the sort and you get lots of families and older people out at the shows both there and the BIC - many of the posters on here just do not know anything about the town centre and how it is at night - speak for yourselves because i think its a great development ,long overdue and will finally clean up that area
Joke
says...
5:15am Fri 28 Sep 12
Joke
says...
5:19am Fri 28 Sep 12
"Money" will probably be the answer and nothing else.
b26b
says...
6:17am Fri 28 Sep 12
A vision maybe but and imagination and sustainablity for all the towns folk is something Bournemouth has no idea how to deliver. Money money money is all its about. Whiffs of Imax.
Gastines3
says...
7:10am Fri 28 Sep 12
downmoor-ch63
says...
8:22am Fri 28 Sep 12
jobsworthwatch wrote:well said jobsworthwatch,my wife and I vote for almost anything that the local government want us to pay for. wether or not we get our wish is not important, we are counted, and not given an ultimatum, as you are. good luck with any referendum, GO FOR IT.
If put to a local referendum I suspect the people of Bournemouth would overwhelmingly reject it! Time for some Swiss style democracy!
downmoor-ch63
says...
8:30am Fri 28 Sep 12
HRH of Boscombe wrote:There used to be one in Winton near the banks, get rid of big macs & KFCs, and bring back the WIMPY BAR!.
Oldcastle wrote:There are a couple left. Barking and Clapham are the only two I know of though.
I hope one of the restaurants will be a Wimpy.
Fred Kite
says...
8:42am Fri 28 Sep 12
woby_tide
says...
8:55am Fri 28 Sep 12
b26b wrote:Good job you mentioned films. I thought you were talking about the bus station for a minute
Obesity, Drunkeness, Trash American films, 300 low wage jobs and an eyesore is what we can look forward to.
A vision maybe but and imagination and sustainablity for all the towns folk is something Bournemouth has no idea how to deliver. Money money money is all its about. Whiffs of Imax.
ragj195
says...
9:20am Fri 28 Sep 12
corozin wrote:In a car park
Just where are all these hundreds of families going to park when this is built?
Tom 'Boscombe' Jones
says...
10:20am Fri 28 Sep 12
dommyball
says...
10:50am Fri 28 Sep 12
The existing cinemas are rubbish, out of date and over priced. I say knock them down and build gym/hotels and smart new boutique type shops/ restaurants at ground level and pedestrianise Westover Road over looking the gardens - Simple.
b26b
says...
5:04pm Fri 28 Sep 12
woby_tide wrote:Ha ha yep thats also true, sod it just turn it back to nature.
b26b wrote:Good job you mentioned films. I thought you were talking about the bus station for a minute
Obesity, Drunkeness, Trash American films, 300 low wage jobs and an eyesore is what we can look forward to.
A vision maybe but and imagination and sustainablity for all the towns folk is something Bournemouth has no idea how to deliver. Money money money is all its about. Whiffs of Imax.
AnastasiaB
says...
6:15pm Fri 28 Sep 12
ragj195 wrote:This development will do little to get people into the Centre whilst the night time ecoonomy is nightclubs, bars and little else. No families will be enticed into the Town Centre especiallyat night. A no go zone at night. Even during the daytime it is not pleasant when you have to walk down the vomit strewn pavments which the Council cannot clean up fast enough. Also parking charges do not help when you can park free at places outside the centre such as Tower Park and Castlepoint. This is one main reason the Centre is dieing.
MrPitiful wrote:Good post. The town centre needs something like this to attract families to come in and spend money. A bus station caters for people who want to come to town, sit in Beales and take three hours to drink one cup of tea.
I think this is a good idea in principle & will certainly make better use of the land - at the minute it is nothing more than a half-used car-park at best & somewhere for the local headbangers to pee in the dark. Also, the effort of a mural on the side of 60 million postcards is an eyesore & does nothing for the area either.
It would be nice if the developers could give an idea of which retailers/caterers will be involved asap - at least so there's no more silly speculation amongst Bournemouth locals who - let's be honest - the majority of which are scared of any kind of change & still wish they could get a smoky bus down to the bottom of Richmond Hill to get an Ice-cream from Fortes!
It would also be nice if some of the restaurants were independent/individu
al as opposed to chains like Pizza Hut etc. Nothing wrong with chains but we already have 'em & something new & ( & shock horror, different!) should be welcome.
One last thought - why do so many people hanker for the out-dated 1970's concept of a bus station? Especially on this site? Less & less towns have a central bus station these days. A family-friendly town centre that we all want should be a safe & clean one. Bus stations in built-up town centres also mean pollution, weirdos hanging round begging for "bus fare home" & general untidyness. If you don't believe me, spend half an hour down the one in Poole!
I agree that the town centre should be accessible by bus for those who have to use buses as their only means of transport but unfortunately folks, we are in the 21st century now. Bring buses in & have a centralised stopping place by all means but let that be it - get the buses in, get the people on & off & get the buses out. Less congestion, less pollution & easier for everyone.
I'm glad that this is going ahead & I also would like the development of the other sites - Imax, Winter Gardens & Pavilion/Westover to go ahead as well. No point in standing still as a town, especially when through changes like these we could all benefit.
AnastasiaB
says...
6:20pm Fri 28 Sep 12
BIGTONE
says...
11:15am Sat 29 Sep 12
They all put forward the same old same old.
Is it because they think they will get a chance of having plans passed?
stfcinbmth
says...
7:24pm Sun 30 Sep 12
Jak Branksome
says...
2:13am Mon 1 Oct 12
pete woodley
says...
7:53pm Tue 2 Oct 12
The Engineer says...
9:18am Thu 27 Sep 12