Pokesdown is “getting on Bournemouth’s agenda”, a public meeting heard.

Caroline Read, a member of the Pokesdown Community Forum, gave an impassioned speech to the forum’s spring meeting.

Caroline, from Scribe Tattoo, told around 50 residents at the Salvation Army Hall in Norwood Place: “We wanted to get Pokesdown on the agenda.

“It was always about Boscombe and it was always bad news.

“They were getting massive amounts of money but nothing up this end.”

She said running two businesses was hard, “but we believe in the future of Pokesdown.”

She said the area was not high in Google internet searches, that the newly organised forum met with councillors and business leaders, and that area’s vintage shops and special events were proving popular.

Caroline thanked residents for their support and urged people to help with the Olympic and Jubilee events on the green opposite the train station.