MORE shops, free parking, a swimming pool and an ice rink.

We asked readers to tell us what Bournemouth town centre needs the most – and more than 1,500 people replied.

Suggestions included everything from a wider choice of retail outlets including a supermarket and department store, cleaner streets and more indoor attractions such as a skating rink or bowling alley.

It comes after concerns were raised by a pub company boss that Bournemouth town centre is ‘dying’. 

Also, as the Daily Echo reported earlier this week, free parking is going to be scrapped for Christmas shoppers this year.

Here are just some of the comments from readers on the Bournemouth Echo Facebook page.

1. Some decent shops. Many of us still like a day out shopping these days I go to West Quay.

2. To go back to 1999 when BIC had a pool, town had shops and it’s department stores, candles in the gardens and fireworks on the pier.

3. A decent supermarket. All these ideas for more flats and gyms in town too… are their inhabitants all going to eat in cafes etc and have takeaways? Us elderly living in the town centre can’t afford to do that and little corner shops are expensive.

4. A good range of shops to encourage locals to stop buying on line and support the local businesses again.

5. A massive cash injection to make it as good as it was in the 80s and 90s. I left a while ago but it’s sad to see closed shops, dry fountains and boarded up pubs.

6. It needs cleaning for a start. Then it needs to be kept safe. Parking needs to be addressed. I’d also like to see a mixture of small businesses, high street shops and charity shops. Something everyone can afford. Julia’s House do some lovely charity shops, I rarely go to Bournemouth as it doesn’t have hardly any.

7. Free parking.

8. Deep cleaned, traditional named shops and cheaper parking fees. Feeling safe late evenings wouldn’t go in missed.

9. A swimming pool like the BIC had

10. A permanent ice rink and roller rink inside one of the shopping centres. Less chain restaurants, security walking around the centre to make the public feel safe, cheaper car parking to encourage people to come in, a huge play zone for children, lower the rent for the smaller businesses so they can afford to stay open… Bring back decent clothes stores, so we don’t have to go elsewhere or online, The nightclubs buzzed between the 80s and noughties, could we ever recreate that vibe?

11. Cheaper parking and much better prices for rentals on shops, restaurants and retail units so that small and private businesses can move in. Another major attraction like The Bournemouth Eye Hot Air Balloon. The beach is so well sought after for weekends, that there needs to be a spread of free car parking, restaurants, hotels that give easy access all along the 7 miles of sand. More beach huts that you can sleep in overnight.

12. Cheaper parking - as those prices keep many away. Bigger selection of shops to cater for mixed budgets - too many exclusive shops which is unrealistic these days. Poundland would be great for everyone - residents and tourists.

13. Police presence and free parking.

14. Department stores, shops , somewhere I can buy an electric kettle without going to Castlepoint.

15. Deep clean the town centre and gardens. Make it more appealing for people to visit .Have more police about the town and the gardens and have dog security about at night in the gardens for less crime .make car parks cheaper and put more security in the big car parks. Could have food shop, nice gift shops, coffee shops, street food ,soft plays and entertainment for kids and family's, a big outdoor and indoor swimming pool complex, do up the BIC make it bigger to hold big events ie music gigs, boxing, ufc comedy gigs musicals shows.

16. A variety of independent retailers and popular known brands. Along with a decent department store. More safety and security. A way to link each ‘quarter’ of Bournemouth as it’s so spread out - each area somehow needs more linking together. It absolutely needs a lot of TLC as parts are so covered in litter and are dark and gloomy. Better lighting and a more welcoming environment.

17. The rents need to be lower so business can survive. Swimming pool, ice rink, indoor fun fair and shops. Update the gardens, clean the place, police it and cheaper parking. It looks so rough.

18. Ice skating rink and the return of the swimming pool in the BIC.

19. A total facelift, in order for businesses to want to be there again people need to feel safe. We need a good choice of shops to pull people in, a mixture of independant stores, charity shops and a decent department store, more indoor activities for familes, cheaper parking. I live a 15 minute walk for Bournemouth Town centre but choose to go to Poole, Southampton or Castlepoint as they have everything I need in one place