AROUND £1million is being handed out to 260 struggling businesses by BCP Council in a move that a nightclub operator says will be “make or break”. The latest round of Covid crisis grants is aimed at several sectors which have been pleading for extra help, including events, nightclubs, travel and the aerospace industry. BCP said Stream Two of its discretionary grant scheme had been developed to support “priority businesses that play a vital and interconnected role in the success of the local economy”. There is £370,000 for the events sector, £200,000 for nightclubs, £165,000 for travel, £153,000 for cultural services, £125,000 for international visitor services and £53,000 for aerospace.
He asked: “Bournemouth and Boscombe piers have had many different forms over their 170-year history. “We’re now looking at plans for their future. What do you think should happen next? “Leave them as they are? Bring them into the 21st century? Expand them? Thoughts welcome!” And many of the public replied, suggesting ideas like a new, high-end restaurant, giving Bournemouth pier a “Santa Monica” style, or even leaving them as they are. Mr Broadhead told the Daily Echo: “I think it is something that we are going to have to look at, I wanted to start the discussion. “I feel we are now at a stage [to look at plans]. Obviously Boscombe Pier is now just a walkway, Bournemouth Pier has had a few more upgrades through the years.
A BID to secure multi-million-pound funding from central government to transform Poole High Street did not meet the required value for money threshold. Leaders at BCP Council were informed on Boxing Day that the local authority s submission as part of the Future High Streets Fund had been unsuccessful. A letter from communities secretary Robert Jenrick MP said: “Our assessment concluded that it unfortunately did not meet the stringent test for overall value for money required by the Treasury as a condition for the fund. Regrettably the business case for Poole did not meet the minimum threshold, Mr Jenrick wrote. Councillor Philip Broadhead, BCP Council deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: Whist we are disappointed not to be awarded this grant, we are pressing ahead with some major plans for Poole High Street which we aim to be transformative.