I WOULD like to express the deep concern of The Society for Poole that the heritage of Poole is being undermined by the BCP Council, specifically the potential destruction of the listed chamber within the Civic Centre.

At the AGM of the Branksome Residents Association, you were challenged personally by Mike Pearce, the chairman of the Society for Poole, regarding the selling off of Poole’s “silver”, its assets and heritage.

You stood up and explicitly assured the whole meeting that the Civic Centre’s listed chamber would not in any way be threatened by redevelopment and indeed that the freehold of building would be retained, via FuturePlaces, for the benefit of future generations of Poole.

It appears however, a constant topic of discussion within BCP and in the media, of how the site can be redeveloped and the chamber destroyed.

Whilst I understand that the leadership of BCP has managed to reign over a financial deficit of £20m during its short time in existence and therefore there is significant pressure to maximize the immediate financial returns of underused assets, the demolition of the heritage listed civic chamber will be the wanton destruction of part of the heritage of Poole.

It will send a clear message that BCP Council is willing to throw Poole’s history and heritage under the bus for short term financial gains.

Can you please give assurance that the demolition of the listed chamber within the Civic Centre is not on the agenda and that whilst the Civic Centre may well be developed, any change of use will incorporate the chamber intact and respect the listed area within the building which has been recognised as historically important for Poole by Historic England.

MIKE PEARCE

Chairman, The Society for Poole