Sale of Poole civic centre would be 'public vandalism'

Neil Duncan-Jordan has lamented BCP Council’s report recommending the local authority sells the civic centre in Municipal Road. 

As reported, selling the asset would save thousands of pounds spent every year to maintain the empty building. 

The Labour MP said: “Local residents already feel that the BCP project has let them down. Selling off this symbol of civic pride is probably the last nail in the coffin. It’s an act of public vandalism. 

“We should be using that building for social housing, community uses, business projects and council services. 

Neil Duncan-Jordan, MP for Poole (Image: PR)

“If the civic centre is sold off, we’ll never get it back – and Poole doesn’t need another load of posh flats that local people can’t afford. 

“This short-term plan has very real long-term consequences. We need to save the civic, not sell it off. It’s a community asset and as such the community should have a say in what happens to it. 

“BCP should run a proper public consultation of the people of Poole to find out what they think. Don’t tell us – ask us.” 

Read more: BCP Council expected to sell off Poole civic centre

BCP Council has so far spent £2.534m in operating the civic centre off Municipal Road since April 2019, of which £568k is since the building was emptied of staff in May 2022.  

Adam Richens, BCP Council’s director of finance, highlighted in a report that this is increasing by about £19k every month for holding costs.  

Poole civic centre (Image: FuturePlaces)

Mark Howell (Image: Daily Echo)

The same report recommends councillors agree to sell off Poole Civic Centre, with the expectation that the private sector would “bring forward a housing and hotel development proposal”. 

Pole Town ward councillor Mark Howell – member of the party Poole People – said it would be “folly” to sell off the civic centre. 

He added it would be more appropriate to wait until a decision on whether Poole could have a town council has been made, where it could potentially be based. 

Cllr Howell added: “Originally going back four or five years to the last administration, I reluctantly agreed that it needed to be sold because the decision had been made to centralise in Bournemouth, a bad decision. 

“There was no need for the building, but I come back to this point of if there is a need for the building by the town council, then you can look at how the building could be used efficiently. 

“After having waited all this time and not disposed of it, and then now we're in a rush to dispose of it, I think it's the wrong time.” 

No decision has yet been made, but BCP Council’s cabinet has been asked to agree to a sale of Poole civic centre.