This milestone follows months of dedicated community engagement, with three consultation processes and over 200 responses – a clear sign of the appetite for greater local influence and collaboration.

For Councillor Sara Armstrong, Green ward councillor for East Cliff & Springbourne, this was an election pledge. She welcomed the decision and paid tribute to the many residents, officers and colleagues who contributed to this achievement.

Sara said: “This is a defining moment for East Cliff and Springbourne. It’s the result of tireless work by local people who care deeply about where they live – people who believe in a better future and want to shape it together.

“To everyone who took part: thank you for your time, your energy, and your belief in this process.”

Neighbourhood Planning empowers communities to influence land use, design and development in their area. It creates a structured, legally recognised platform to bring residents, businesses and organisations together around shared goals.

“This proposal isn’t about drawing lines, it’s about bringing people together,” Cllr Armstrong continued. “We are one community, facing shared challenges and holding shared hopes. This will give us the opportunity to respond collectively to the issues we face – from derelict buildings and anti-social behaviour, to the impact of unregulated Houses in Multiple Occupation and the need for safer, more inclusive neighbourhoods.”

The East Cliff & Springbourne Neighbourhood Forum builds on strong grassroots momentum, and means that a united, forward-looking vision for the area can now be created.

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Top photo: The Asda Foundation presenting a cheque to Friends of Knyveton & Spencer Gardens

Since being elected two years ago, hard-working Green Councillor for East Cliff & Springbourne, Sara Armstrong, has brought £103,400 of extra investment into our area. Sara has personally written and worked with local groups to make applications, resulting in securing grants, and Community Infrastructure funding levied from developers.

This is supporting projects that matter to local people – from safer parks and better bins, to improved green spaces and community facilities:

• £50,000 for Knyveton Gardens improvements to combat anti-social behaviour
• £20,000 for new play equipment in Springbourne Gardens
• £10,000 from the Prosperity Fund for district enhancements
• £12,000 helping deliver new outdoor equipment for Vale Lodge residents, play equipment and children’s area at the library
• £7,000 for extra security lighting, CCTV, electrics and sensory gardenupgrades at Knyveton Gardens in partnership with the Friends and Bowls Club
• £3,000 for new bins along the East Cliff
• £1,000 for pond improvements in the sensory gardens at Knyveton Gardens
• £400 for volunteers and events at Knyveton and Spencer Gardens
• £1,000 to help establish the Friends of East Cliff & Springbourne group to support local volunteering, future fundraising, and write grant applications.

Photo: The new Friends of East Cliff & Springbourne group – planning green space improvements, arts and heritage projects, community events and info

Sara said: “I’m proud to have secured this funding for our community. It’s a team effort and shows what we can achieve when we listen to local people and work together. This is just the beginning.”

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Sara commented: “There’s still much to do, but we’re moving forward despite financial pressures at the Council.”
A cleaner, safer East Cliff is taking shape. Now the newly established East Cliff Action Group is stepping up, and inviting volunteers to drive local improvements and community pride.

• Contact Sara to get involved

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Now, all Knyveton Gardens entrances have new signage, a new bin has replaced one damaged by fireworks, and the sensory gardens have had a ‘haircut’ with flowering plants returning. A Nature Walk, a table tennis table and children’s activity items are on the way. There’s more voluntary work going on in the park. Renovations to the community shed continue, alongside general upkeep.

Meanwhile Spencer Gardens had a Spring trim.

The Friends have won further funding from both the Asda Foundation and Wessex Water, in bids written with Sara.

Follow them: facebook.com/KnyvetonSpencerGardens

Cllr Armstrong has worked with neighbourhood police on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in the vicinity. They have adopted a “Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment plan”, tasked a new neighbourhood officer, and changed CCTV.

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Green Councillor for East Cliff & Springbourne, Sara Armstrong, told the Bournemouth Daily Echo: “King’s Park was part of my childhood – a place where I found freedom, friendship and imagination. For many families, especially those living in flats or without gardens, spaces like Kings Park are not luxuries. They are essential for a healthy, happy childhood.”

Happily, BCP Council has a plan for change. Sara has received confirmation from staff of a £200,000 investment to completely redesign and rebuild King’s Park play park. A full Council consultation of the local community is in progress this summer. 

Sara commented: “I’ll keep pushing to make sure the process is inclusive, transparent, and delivers a space our community can be proud of.”

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However only 20-25 such requests are granted each year in BCP.

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She highlighted concerns in East Cliff over:

• disposable BBQs,
• inadequate facilities,
• general neglect of public spaces,
• parking enforcement and management,
• accessible toilets and beachfront access, and
• inaction over restoring the long-disused East Cliff lift.

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Neighbourhood plans can benefit communities in many ways:

Additional resources
More CIL monies and an evidence base to bid for more much needed resources for our ward.

Community ownership
Neighbourhood plans give communities more say in shaping their local area’s development and growth.

Local issues
Communities can gain a better understanding of local issues and how to address them.

Community engagement
Neighbourhood planning can bring a community together.

Vision
Communities can establish a vision for their area, including what they want their neighbourhood to look like in the future.

Planning policies
Communities can influence planning policies that set out where new development should be located and how it should be designed.

Local green spaces
Communities can identify and protect local green spaces.

Certainty
Neighbourhood plans can provide greater certainty for developers and communities about the allocation of housing sites.

Quality development
Neighbourhood plans can improve the quality of development and help to respond better to the character and heritage of local areas.

Sara adds: “In a short video filmed last year I introduced the value of Neighbourhood Plans and my commitments to our community.

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King’s Park lies in the westernmost corner of Littledown & Iford ward, but bordering both East Cliff & Springbourne and Boscombe.

The full reply:

We are working with the suppliers of the play equipment to see if any short term remedies can be found to get some equipment back in to use. As you will be aware, with a spending freeze that includes basic maintenance of play areas, we are very limited in what we can currently do. Unfortunately, this means we are having to fence off play equipment.

We are writing a ‘Play Plan’, a strategy to support BCP Council’s 179 individual spaces with play facilities. Through the strategy, we will understand the needs and required investment of these spaces and be able to advocate for funding and start investing in these important spaces.

A masterplan for Kings Park has long been on the project list to support future design and infrastructure decisions. This is not currently being progressed and we have been expecting the football club to bring forward new stadium plans.”

Play Strategy aiming for December Cabinet meeting. Engagement being planned with Councillors before that.

I’ve contacted Neighbourhood Planning to ask if an extension to the neighbourhood plan area to include the western part of the park is even possible due to the added complexity of the ward boundaries and if so, would that support the direction of CIL monies in the short term?

I understand that applications will be made to the strategic CIL funds (bigger separate pot) to support the investment case of the Play plan strategy and will also rely on external or alternative funding too.

The consultation closes soon on October 7th.

https://haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ecs-forum-area

Would be great to hear your thoughts.

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Sara says: “The team are working up some ideas which ward councillors can take out into the community for consultation.

“The money needs to be spent by March 2025. £10k won’t go very far so we’re also looking into ways we can attract in more funding to enhance this important community space.

“Preserving our green spaces is vital for mental health, wellbeing, play and making connections with others. Many residents have been concerned about the parks in our area, in particular about play equipment.

“This is an issue very close to my own heart having grown up in the area and raised two children here. I remember taking my own children to this play park after a visit to the library and it being buzzing with other families enjoying a picnic together and having fun after school. I’d like to see that happening again.

“Please get in touch if you’d like to get involved in this project, give feedback or share ideas about the future of Springbourne District Centre.

“We have also heard the concerns expressed from users of the park and residents close by, about the loss of the beloved swing and the deteriorating sponge flooring.

“In light of this we have asked that this investment be directed to the park to maximise the benefit to the community. I attach a visual for feedback about the type of equipment preferred – a basket swing or an octopus seasaw?

“The sponge flooring will also be repaired.

“There is a fantastic opportunity for residents to get more involved with shaping potential developments in Springbourne district – from supporting the library and park as a member of a ‘friends of’ community group, getting involved with any fundraising, community events, volunteering or as a business owner from setting up a Business Watch or simply supporting a ‘buy local’ campaign by taking one of our BCP ‘buy local’ packs.

“There are plenty of good examples of community involvement around parks and district centres such as Churchill Gardens, Seafield Gardens, Winton Library Garden and now our own re emerging Friends of Knyveton and Spencer Gardens.

“If you are a park user please let us know which piece of equipment would work best for the children in the area in your opinion or if you would like to become a ‘Friend of Springbourne Park and Library’. Forming a community group will help us to access funding the council can’t apply for.”

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