WHAT should the future of Bournemouth and Boscombe piers look like?

That is the question posed by the deputy leader of BCP Council, who said he felt it was time to look at plans to improve the piers.

Councillor Philip Broadhead, deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, asked on Twitter what the public think should happen with the two piers.

He asked: “Bournemouth and Boscombe piers have had many different forms over their 170-year history.

Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth Pier and town witht he foundations of the BOurnemouth International centre being laid 1982. B J Chapple Collection.

“We’re now looking at plans for their future. What do you think should happen next?

“Leave them as they are? Bring them into the 21st century? Expand them? Thoughts welcome!”

And many of the public replied, suggesting ideas like a new, high-end restaurant, giving Bournemouth pier a “Santa Monica” style, or even leaving them as they are.

Mr Broadhead told the Daily Echo: “I think it is something that we are going to have to look at, I wanted to start the discussion.

“I feel we are now at a stage [to look at plans]. Obviously Boscombe Pier is now just a walkway, Bournemouth Pier has had a few more upgrades through the years.

“It was just what local people’s thoughts were and what should happen.

“It is something, as an administration, we are going to be having a look at and a consultation in the future.”

Bournemouth Pier, initially just a wooden jetty in the 1850s, has been through a multitude of changes through the years and in 2014 opened the world’s first pier-to-shore zip wire.

Boscombe Pier, built in 1888, was partially demolished during World War Two, only to reopen in the 1960s.

Bournemouth Echo: Construction of the Boscombe pier 1960.

And Mr Broadhead said it was interesting to see how engaged people were with the discussion.

“There’s lots of different options,” he continued.

“It is pretty clear people feel very passionately about it.

“We are going to be looking at the sea front opportunities, we have one of the best beaches in Europe and we want to put a focus on the offering we have, that is not just for people coming in, that is local people as well.

“We are going to look really closely at how we can unleash the potential.

He added: “The piers have a long and proud history, I don’t personally think change is a bad thing.

“We all need to be proud of what we have got, I would be really interested to hear people’s views on what the future of the piers should be.”