EXCLUSIVE: Residents in a once-thriving harbour city say they’re being missed and shedding their spark.
Poole residents say Bournemouth and Sandbanks get extra love than their city (Picture: Getty)
With its huge pure harbour, cobbled quay and a few of Britain’s most costly coastal properties, Poole must be thriving. However stroll alongside the excessive avenue on a weekday afternoon and the temper feels very completely different. Residents say the historic Dorset city has misplaced a few of its spark, with empty retailers, ageing buildings and a rising sense that focus and funding have drifted elsewhere, notably for the reason that creation of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
Many locals consider the merger of the three authorities in 2019 has left Poole struggling to compete with its greater neighbour, Bournemouth, and the ultra-wealthy enclave of Sandbanks. Few individuals know the city higher than David Fallows, 75, who has lived right here for many years. Standing within the city centre beside his spouse Sue, 77, he mentioned the place he grew up in not feels fairly the identical.
David, 77 and his spouse, Sharon Fallows, 75, say Poole has “gone downhill” (Picture: Humphrey Nemar)
“Poole has gone downhill because it joined councils with Bournemouth, and I don’t agree with them becoming a member of,” he mentioned. “What’s good for Poole isn’t the identical as Bournemouth and Poole is getting massively missed.”
David describes Poole as a “working city”, however says rising prices imply it’s turning into more durable for many individuals to afford dwelling right here.
“It used to really feel like its personal place,” he added. “Now it appears like we’ve been lumped in with someplace very completely different.”
For some, the obvious signal of change is the city centre itself. Chris Goodman, 37, travels down from London each month to play in an orchestra in Poole. Whereas he loves the realm, he says the excessive avenue feels disconnected from the wonder surrounding it.
“It’s a pleasant place, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel prefer it. There must be a imaginative and prescient,” he mentioned. “There’s the jetty and all these picturesque areas round it, however the excessive avenue appears like a no man’s land.”
He believes the city has a cultural identification ready to be tapped into.
“Poole has a robust historical past of arts and tradition. The council actually need to lean into that extra.”
“At Poole’s bus station, we’ve proven our dedication to bettering the seating, lighting and signage below a bundle of continued funding in bus providers throughout our three cities.
“In Might, voters will elect councillors to the brand-new Poole City Council. This new council will ship providers for the group that BCP Council merely can’t due to greater than a decade of relentless cuts to native authorities funding and permit individuals to form and affect how cash is spent domestically on issues like festivals, enhancements to excessive streets, extra Christmas lights, and extra actions for younger individuals.”
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