Who is Old Christchurch Road actually for?

BCP Council’s latest redesign of parts of Old Christchurch Road has left many residents and local businesses questioning whether the practical realities of running a successful town centre are being properly considered.

Under proposals led by Cllr Andy Hadley, significant changes have been introduced including additional restrictions, narrowed carriageways, extensive bollards and the removal of parking spaces. Residents have also raised concerns about reduced flexibility for disabled parking, more difficult access for deliveries and reduced convenience for visitors simply trying to access local shops and services.

At a time when Bournemouth town centre is already facing challenges from online shopping, rising costs and changing consumer habits, many residents are asking whether making access more difficult is really the right approach. Town centres rely on accessibility, convenience and footfall. Independent businesses depend upon customers being able to visit easily, stop nearby, attend appointments, collect purchases and support local trade without unnecessary difficulty.

BCP Council says the scheme is intended to:

• improve bus reliability,
• reduce delays caused by illegal parking, and
• improve accessibility.

While these aims are understandable, residents are increasingly questioning whether the balance has gone too far.

If illegal parking is becoming a growing issue across BCP, many are asking whether greater enforcement should be part of the solution. Questions are now being raised over the number of parking enforcement officers currently operating across Bournemouth and Poole, whether staffing levels have reduced since Covid, and whether enforcement capacity is sufficient for a busy coastal conurbation during peak periods.

There is also concern that increasingly restrictive road layouts are affecting a wide range of residents, including disabled motorists, carers, tradespeople, visitors and local businesses.

Importantly, this debate is not about being anti-bus, anti-cycling or anti-pedestrian. Most residents support safe walking routes, reliable public transport and sensible cycling infrastructure. The concern is whether transport policy is becoming unbalanced, prioritising one mode of travel at the expense of others.

Not everyone can cycle.
Not everyone lives on a direct bus route.
Not everyone is physically able to walk long distances.

A thriving town centre should work for everyone, pedestrians, cyclists, bus users and motorists alike.

Bournemouth remains a beautiful and vibrant coastal town with enormous potential. However, residents increasingly believe the town centre needs:

• investment,
• confidence,
• thriving independent businesses,
• practical accessibility,
• and policies that support, rather than discourage, visitors and customers.

Many are now asking whether schemes such as this are genuinely helping regenerate Bournemouth town centre, or whether they risk contributing to the very challenges they are intended to solve.