Lib Dems urge action on maintaining Bournemouth's character and protecting back gardens

10.42.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 30th Jul 2006

Liberal Democrat councillors have won cross-party Council backing for action to maintain Bournemouth's character when developments take place in the borough. The move was spearheaded by Councillor Andrew Garratt (Boscombe East) and Councillor Bill Brandwood (Queen's Park).

Their plans are for:

• character area policies being drawn up so that developments would have clear guidelines on what would be acceptable to the council and residents of an area

• back gardens to be classified as green field sites giving them greater protection against "in-filling" by developers

Lib Dem run Eastleigh Council already has successful character area policies, which Bournemouth can learn from.

Because of the Lib Dem move the Council is now backing a Bill going through Parliament that would protect back gardens in this way. We know have to see if the Government will support the Bill and make it law.

Andrew Garratt says:

"Although central Government dictates most of planning policy, we are determined that Bournemouth Council makes it clear that it will work with residents to ensure that developments are in keeping with local areas.

"We do need new homes in the area. Otherwise children growing up now in our town are going to be forced to move away to find somewhere they can afford to live. But we must also make sure that the quality of new homes is the highest possible.

"Back gardens are not only vital to the character of an area. They also are important for local wildlife and for natural drainage. It makes sense to protect them from development as much as possible when there is other previously-developed land available."