Christchurch MP urges BCP Council to show town 'respect'

The veteran MP has expressed concern over how development 'ideas' for the town have been handled by the BCP leadership.

As reported by the Echo, ‘development opportunities’ drawn up for the BCP Conservative administration by its lead member for high streets were contained in a confidential email and included the demolition and rebuild of Saxon Square car park and a Canford Bottom-style roundabout at Stony Lane.

The town council has called an extraordinary public meeting for Thursday after councillors and some residents claimed they had been kept in the dark for months and then misled about the ideas.

BCP Council deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, Cllr Philip Broadhead, is to attend the meeting and will explain the authority's position.

Now Sir Christopher has told the Echo: "BCP Council needs to show respect for the town council's role in representing the views of local people.

"It should be working with and sharing with the town council, its plans and ideas for the town.

"I would say that hasn't happened yet but I am hoping that Cllr Broadhead going to the meeting will be a change for the better and reflect a change in approach towards taking Christchurch Town Council and its elected representatives seriously."

• Read more: 'Improvement opportunities are not the same as proposals'

Conservative Sir Christopher said the town council was drawing up a neighbourhood plan and if BCP Council wanted to contribute to that process, this was "the right forum by which its ideas can be discussed and debated."

He said it was 'odd' that the ideas were being given so much prominence and being justified by the responses of 24 people in very vague consultation.

He added: "One of the troubles with this very large authority is that most of the people on it will not be familiar with Christchurch. That is the downside of large authorities and the only way to mitigate that is to take seriously the local councils."

Cllr Philip Broadhead

Cllr Broadhead said: “I fundamentally agree with Sir Christopher. We are in the ‘call-out for ideas’ stage and as I have said we have no projects in train at the moment. I am in listening mode and want to hear as many ideas as possible from as many people as possible, most certainly the town councillors and our residents.

“We will obviously consult when we have got proposals to consult on and we want to work together in the spirit of positivity and cooperation.”

Thursday's meeting is at Homelands Hall at 6pm.