Bournemouth Conservatives - West

01/06/2026

Could You Be a Councillor?

Politics needs more real people. Not career politicians. Not political insiders. Just local people who care about their communities and want to make a difference.

Councillors come from all walks of life,business owners, teachers, healthcare professionals, tradespeople, parents, carers, students, veterans and retirees. What matters most is a willingness to listen, work hard and stand up for local residents.

As a councillor, you can:
✅ Represent your community
✅ Help solve local problems
✅ Influence decisions that affect residents
✅ Hold the council to account
✅ Make a genuine difference where you live

You don’t need previous political experience and full training and support are available.

If you’ve ever found yourself saying:

💭 “There must be a better way.”

💭 “Someone should do something about that.”

💭 “Residents deserve to be heard.”

Then perhaps that someone could be you! The 2027 local elections may seem a long way off but now is the perfect time to find out more.

📩 If you’d like an informal, no obligation chat about becoming a Conservative councillor, please get in touch with an email to : [email protected]

Your community. Your voice. Your opportunity to make a difference.

24/05/2026

18/05/2026

With the introduction of Bournemouth Town Council, many residents are understandably asking, “What does the Town Council do?” and “What is still handled by BCP Council?”

Below is a simple guide to help explain the difference.

Bournemouth Town Council

Bournemouth Town Council focuses on very local community matters and neighbourhood representation.

Current responsibilities include:

• Allotments and community growing spaces
• Representing local community views
• Supporting neighbourhood initiatives
• Community engagement and local events
• Working with local groups and organisations
• Helping shape smaller local projects and improvements

Important to know:

At present, Bournemouth Town Council has limited direct powers, with allotments currently one of its main formal responsibilities. However, responsibilities may expand over time.

BCP Council

BCP Council remains the main unitary authority responsible for delivering major local government services across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Responsibilities include:

• Roads and highways
• Waste collection and recycling
• Planning applications and enforcement
• Housing and homelessness services
• Schools and education
• Social care and safeguarding
• Council tax and major budgets
• Beaches, tourism and economic development
• Parking and transport policy

How the Two Councils Work Together

The two councils are separate organisations but will work alongside each other where responsibilities overlap. Town Councillors provide an additional local layer of representation focused on neighbourhood level issues, while BCP Councillors remain responsible for wider council services and strategic decisions.

Who Should I Contact?

Contact your Town Councillor for:

• Community ideas and local initiatives
• Neighbourhood concerns
• Allotments and local community matters
• Local events and engagement opportunities

Contact your BCP Councillor for:

• Planning issues
• Roads, potholes and highways
• Waste and recycling
• Housing and social care
• Major council services and policies

Clear communication is important, and we hope this guide helps residents better understand the new structure of local government in Bournemouth.

17/05/2026

STOP THE NEW ‘HOLIDAY TAX’
PROTECT OUR COASTAL ECONOMY

The Labour Government is pushing forward plans to allow new overnight ‘Holiday Taxes’ in England opening the door for local authorities to charge visitors extra to stay in coastal towns like Bournemouth. ( GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/overnight-visitor-levy-in-england ) For areas like ours, that should ring alarm bells.

Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the wider South West depend heavily on tourism. Hotels, cafés, restaurants, attractions and small businesses all rely on visitors choosing to holiday here. Thousands of local jobs and family incomes depend on it too. Yet despite the pressure already facing hospitality businesses, Liberal Democrat run councils have shown growing support for visitor levies and similar schemes.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t just a small extra charge. It risks driving visitors away altogether.

📉 39% of Brits say they would consider holidaying abroad if UK breaks become more expensive.
📊 377,000 jobs in the South West rely on tourism related industries and that’s likely an underestimate.

At a time when families are already struggling with rising costs and businesses are under pressure, this is the wrong idea at the worst possible moment. Taxing people for holidaying in Britain doesn’t support our economy, it undermines it. Bournemouth should be encouraging tourism, not pricing people out of visiting our town.

We need to stand up for:
✔️ Local jobs
✔️ Small businesses
✔️ Affordable UK holidays
✔️ Our coastal communities

Please take two simple actions today:
1️⃣ Sign the petition to STOP the Holiday Tax https://tally.so/r/5BdzJo
2️⃣ Share this post and help spread the word across the South West

Together, we can protect our tourism industry and the communities that rely on it.


Conservatives

12/05/2026

🚗 BCP Council Proposes Major Parking Charge Increases Across Bournemouth & Poole

Residents across Bournemouth and Poole are being urged to check BCP Council’s latest parking consultation after proposals emerged for significant increases in charges across a number of popular locations. Among the proposals in consultation reference P136 are:

🅿️ Boscombe Undercliff rising to:
• £22.90 for up to 6 hours
• £28 for up to 24 hours

🅿️ Seafront roads in Poole facing peak summer charges of:
• £19.10 for up to 6 hours
• £25 for longer stays

🅿️ Extended charging periods in some areas to operate 24 hours a day

At a time when families are already struggling with rising household bills, many residents will rightly question whether now is the time for further financial pressure every time they visit our beaches, town centres or local businesses.

Parking charges do not just affect motorists. They affect:
• local shops and cafés
• hospitality businesses
• tourism
• carers and workers
• families enjoying our coastline
• and residents already paying higher council tax bills

People understand parking needs to be managed fairly but there is growing concern that BCP Council increasingly sees motorists as a source of revenue rather than residents to support.

If these proposals go ahead, many fear they risk making Bournemouth and Poole less accessible, less affordable and less attractive for residents and visitors alike. The most important thing now is that residents have their say before the consultation closes.

📋 Consultation Reference: P136
📅 Deadline: 29 May 2026

Read the proposals and respond here https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/roads-and-travel-improvement-projects/highways-consultations/parking-tariff-amendments-reference-p136

To comment on, support or object to this proposal you can email [email protected].
You must quote the reference P136 ask for an acknowledgment.

Whether you support the plans or oppose them, make your voice heard before decisions are finalised.

10/05/2026

✨ Last call for QUIZ NIGHT! ✨

Looking for a night out with friends, family or colleagues? Come along to our Quiz Evening for an enjoyable evening of fun, food and friendly competition!

📅 Thursday 14th May 2026
⏰ 6.15pm for 6.30pm start
📍 Westbourne Conservative Club, BH4 8DX
💷 £14 per person (includes food!)
🍽️ Choose from: Scampi, sausage, chicken or vegetarian sausage, all served with chips.

👥 Bring a team or join one on the night
🎉 Great atmosphere guaranteed
🏆 A fun challenge for all abilities
📩 Book your place [email protected]
📞 01202 291288
👉 Spaces are limited, don’t miss out!

08/05/2026

Meet our two Bournemouth Central, West Cliff and Westbourne Town Councillors Karen Hay & Michael Labidi 👏🏼 Well done

07/05/2026

Even if you didn’t want the town councils, here’s why you should vote 👇🏼

06/05/2026

Good luck to all candidates tomorrow!



Promoted by David Bailey, Bournemouth West Conservatives, 13 Fleetsbridge Business Centre, Upton Road, Poole, Dorset, BH17 7AF