Vikki Slade: 'Let places choose how they regenerate'

The former BCP Council turned MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole said town and city centres need “the same careful plan-led development” as suburban and rural areas. 

Community consent to developments “must” be at the heart of regeneration, the Liberal Democrat MP said. 

She called for reform of transport, including updated legislation around e-scooters, and a five per cent reduction on public charging for electric vehicles.

Mrs Slade said updated e-scooter legislation would be part of regeneration (Image: Daily Echo)

Mrs Slade said: “A vibrant town centre needs arts and culture, reflecting our diverse populations. Events such as Wimborne folk festival and Wareham Wednesdays draw people in from surrounding towns and villages. 

“Bigger events, such as Arts by the Sea in Bournemouth and Poole Oktoberfest, draw people in during seaside shoulder time and— I agree with the intervention made earlier—they create the opportunity for investors to see our towns at their best. 

“We need to make sure that councils can afford to support tourism. The squeeze on councils over the last decade under the Conservatives has made it virtually impossible for councils to fund these non-statutory things. 

“I would like the government to keep considering options such as tourism levies, local visitor economy partnerships and other ways for local councils to generate income.  

“Lib Dems call on the new Labour Government to properly fund local government, urgently close the £4 billion local government funding gap and let councils lead change.” 

Mrs Slade said the Liberal Democrats want to replace business rates with a commercial land owner levy, alongside an increase in the digital services tax. 

This, she said, “would boost investment and cut taxes for businesses in nine out of 10 English local authority areas”. 

She added: “It would benefit retailers and other small businesses, and would reduce the burden on councils as there would be fewer land parcels to tax.” 

The MP said in her former role as BCP Council’s leader she witnessed how councils have had to reinvent themselves. 

"They touch every home and business, so investing locally will pay dividends. We know what works. Just as importantly, councils know what does not work,” she said. 

“Just like the big industries that shaped our cities for the first half of the 20th century that are not coming back, the giant retailers that shaped our town centres in the second half are part of history, too. 

“To create thriving communities, we need the government to invest locally and let places choose how they regenerate.”