CAMPAIGNERS hoping to stop the Bournemouth Centre for Community Arts (BCCA) building being replaced by housing continued to make their voices heard yesterday after controversial plans for the site went on show.

The former school between Haviland Road and Gladstone Road in Boscombe has been empty since Bournemouth council said it was too expensive to repair in 2007.

The site transferred to Bournemouth 2026, which has applied for planning permission for 11 affordable homes and hopes to restore part of the building into an arts and culture hub.

Bournemouth 2026 chairman Bob Boulton, who met campaigners and local residents at the regeneration office in Roumelia Lane, Boscombe, said: “The proposal will ensure a long-term future for the building and every care is being taken to ensure its conversion is sympathetic to its late Victorian architecture.

“We hope this will become a vibrant place for the community to enjoy arts and culture.”

His sentiments were shared by local councillor and 2026 board member Jane Kelly who said: “It is a wonderful opportunity to use this piece of land and bring it back to life.”

Earlier this month, the Occupy Boscombe protest group camped out in the building in an attempt to stop the development going ahead.

Bournemouth council took the group to court to get them evicted and the case was adjourned until April 2.

Bournemouth 2026 has also put out a “tackling myths” leaflet attempting to confront local criticism of the plans.

The council says the scheme, to be called Gladstone Mews, would be part of its efforts to improve the housing stock as the cornerstone of regeneration in Boscombe.

The site would eventually be handed over to a newly-formed Community Land Trust.