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Minutes of a ‘Zoom’ Meeting of the Committee held at the Invitation of

Paul at 7.30pm on Monday 28th September 2020

 

Present: Ken Mantock (Chairman), Jean Bird (Vice Chairman), Elaine Cooper, John Soane (Built Environment Officer, and Paul Newsome (Minutes Secretary, Jean-Daniel Kursner.

 

 Apologies: John Barker (President), Sally McGrath (Membership Secretary), James Weir (Heritage and Conservation Officer), Beryl Parker, Phil Stanley-Watts and Hilda Brownlow

 

Welcome.  Ken welcomed Jean-Daniel Kursner to his first meeting

 

  1. The minutes for the meeting held on 24th August were agreed.

 

  1. Matters Arising from the Minutes:
  • Bournemouth Flag.  Ken had emailed the Poole Flag Trust to inform them that the Society does not support the idea of new flag for Bournemouth.
  • Closure of Overcliff Drive to Cars.  The Council had abandoned the plans for the cycle lanes and vehicular road closures at East Overcliff and at Southbourne/Boscombe Overcliff.

 

  1. Built Environment.
  • Boscombe & Pokesdown Neighbourhood Plan. Ken, John S and Elaine would review the plans.
  • Viking Court, 47 Southbourne Overcliff Drive. The Local Government Ombudsman had not found maladministration on this case.  The Society would raise this with Caroline Peach at the next meeting as it highlighted weaknesses in the revised delegation scheme.
  • Lucerne Arch. Ken had informed Cllr Nigel Hedges of the Society’s decision to support the removal of the arch and the cleaning/ re-siting of the Lucerne Clock to a better position in the Town Centre.
  • Friends of Riverside. No further news on the Green Belt or the Copper Dean land sale but the land still featured in the  Local Plan review search for sites.  Ken had featured this in the Newsletter.
  • Local Plan Search for Sites. Elaine, John S and Ken would review the documents with regard to sites and policy standards.
  • 5 Woodland Avenue. The Council had rejected the plans for flats which was a heartening decision.

 

  1. Heritage and Conservation.
  • Throop Mill. No news.
  • Hicks Farm. John S had commented on the SANG proposal.
  • ABC Cinema. There were new plans for a mixed use  scheme – see next section.
  • Westbourne Cinema (Bingo Hall). Plans had been approved for change of use to a gymnasium.
  • Gala Bingo in Odeon Cinema Lansdowne. Bingo will not reopen so we need to keep a watching brief on the building and proposals for its reuse. This this the last of the former town centre cinemas to close.

 

  1. See John Soane’s written reports:
  • 866 Ringwood Road (opposite Ringwood Road Retail Park).  The plan to build two pairs of two-storied semi-detached house on a site currently occupied by a mid-twentieth century bungalow was excessive and out of keeping with neighbouring properties.  It should be deferred for further discussion and improvement.
  • 69-71 Boscombe Overcliff Drive.  The application to build two modernist 3/4 storey blocks of seven flats on the site of two twentieth century structures which are in keeping with their surroundings.  The footprints of the new buildings would be twice that currently.  The Society considers that this falls short of the townscape policies of the Bournemouth Local Plan and should be deferred for further consideration and improvement.
  • 20 Ashley Road (Behind 77 Haviland Road).  The plan to convert a Tudor-style restaurant and maisonette into four flats.  The Society considers that this would result in sub-standard residential accommodation and should be refused.
  • 23-31 Richmond Hill (Richmond House).  The plan is to convert this relatively modern office building into 72 one and two bedroom flats with five office suites on the ground floor. The Society supports the principle of the change of use but considers that such a large number of small flats could  increase the already prevalent anti-social behaviour in the area and create parking problems and that the number of flats should be reduced.  This plan should be deferred for further consideration and improvement.
  • 27-28 Westover Road (ABC Cinema).  The plan sought to rehabilitate the former cinema and includes 67 flats with commercial activities on the ground floor and include the creation of 48 car parking spaces.  The Society considers this to be an improvement on previous applications but thinks that to improve the townscape the topmost storey and the penthouse should be removed and that the plan should be deferred for further discussion and improvement..

 

  1. Planning Board Observations: No observations received

 

  1.   Communications Timetable.  The newsletter was with the printers having been

written by Ken over the weekend.

 

  1. Civic Voice. A good campaign was being headed by Civic Voice against the Government’s proposals to further deregulate the planning system and lots of news was featured in the weekly newsletters received from them.  Ken had submitted the Society’s submissions on their on-line survey of the views of Societies concerning the new planning laws.

 

  1. Membership Officer’s Report.  I new member (J-D Kursner)
  2.  Webmaster’s Report.  All good and up to date and several enquiries received via it.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report:
  • Current Account. £35,790.84
  • Keith Barnes Estate. No further news at current time.

 

  1. Caroline Peach Meeting. Ken had contacted Caroline, next meeting would be late October or in November. Jean would contact Caroline and suggest dates and agenda items.

 

  1. Any Other Business
  • Bournemouth Historical Research Facebook Page. Agreed to support this initiative that Alwyn had brought to our attention.

 

Next Meetings

 

Mondays 26th October and 23rd November via ‘Zoom’ and starting at 7.30pm – Paul to be responsible for arrangements.

 

 

 

                       

Ken Mantock

26th October 2020                                                                            Chairman

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