Don't make historical council mistakes.

20 Oct 2023

I've lived in Poole for 12 years now. I consider myself as a London refugee, as I fled London for a better life. I left a small London town that i lived in all my life. At one point was considered a suburb. Over a course if time it was absorbed by London. During this process employment went down, houses were built in any space the council could get there hands on and developed until there was no space left. Crime went through the roof. Big businesses left. But more importantly the local communities wasn't listened to and over time the community, history and way of life died.


People like myself moved away. Due to the fear that our childen could end up using drug issues, getting stabbed or involved in crime. These were all real fears, as this was common for teenagers in that area.


We moved to Poole because it was a million miles away from or old life, but this is changing. I'm seeing similarities between Poole and where I used to live and my alarm bells are ringing.


Poole is a place we as a faminly felt safe day or night. Lately I'm seeing crime in my area rising. New building projects springing up. Take Baiter park a real place to ease menal health and general exercise is making way for a busy park experience, why not invest in Poole park as many locals dont want the upgrade to Baiter? But more importantly the community which in my view is a very special is changing.


Read most Facebook posts or Daily echo posts about changes to Poole and people are constantly angry because they are not listened to even when the consultation process is applied they are still not listened to. And others are telling them on these threads they are just afraid of change. They have every right to be angry. Why change? Thousands of people visit here every year because of how special it is. I was one of them.


It doesn't need another Costa, the small businesses was appealing and a part of the charm. It dosent need more flats on the Quay that the young locals cant afford. It doesn't need expensive shops on the beach owned by corporations and not by locals. It needs local investment in local people. Thats what keeps the charm.


I'm very passionate about Poole it's a place I wanted to live for the rest of my life. Its a beautiful place where the locals are one of the best kinds of people I've ever encountered. Friendly, accommodating, welcoming, pleasant, helpful and so much more. But this special comunnity is changing and people moving away. I'm sure eventually I will join others on another migration.

There must be a better way to bring in investment without decimating local communities and the their way of life.


Listen to the people and do something about it and make people proud to be apart of where they live. Without them it just becomes a place, a forgettable place with a failing economy where nobody wants to live.