Summer seems to have been with us for quite a while, with glorious sunshine, swimmable seas and endless opportunities to enjoy a coffee, a drink or a meal in the open air.
That said there is always another side to this ‘dream picture’: overflowing bins, discarded bottles and food wrappers, uncleaned streets and cars parked just about everywhere within ten minutes of the beach. This is contemporary England!
BPCCRA and our sister residents’ associations exist to give local residents a voice on issues like these and raise concerns with BCP. The more residents who support and engage with us the more effectively we can represent our community.
This Wednesday’s BPCCRA Open Meeting is an opportunity to hear more about what we’re doing and where the association is heading. As well as parking we’ll be looking at BPCCRA’s future direction and priorities, what should we be focusing on and where can we make the greatest difference? Our sister association, Dorset Lake Community, is undertaking a similar exercise with anti-social behaviour on beaches and roads emerging as a particular concern. So BPCCRA members, what matters most to you?
Parking: is increasing fines really the answer?
BCP has again increased parking fines for August as part of a trial aimed at tackling the seasonal parking crisis. Lower tariff fines have risen from £50 to £110 and higher tariff offences from £70 to £160, with discounts for early payment.
But does increasing fines really address the wider problem? For many years we have called for a more coherent parking strategy for our area, including adequate car parks and sensible roadside parking provision.
Back in 2024 BCP voted to sell off part of Beach Road car park despite a ten year campaign by residents opposing the sale. BPCCRA warned that losing more than 300 spaces would add to local parking pressures. Yet two years later there has been little visible progress and this valuable parking facility remains unused.
BPCCRA on the BBC!
Did anyone catch our recent BBC interviews about the parking problems in our area? Last week BPCCRA featured on three local BBC radio interviews, on BBC South regional television news and on the BBC local news website.
I was interviewed about anti-social parking, including blocked driveways and problems affecting the No 50 bus route. You can read more here.
The coverage was very welcome and demonstrates the influence BPCCRA can have in raising issues that matter to residents. Building on that influence, and encouraging more residents to support and engage with us, will be an important part of our future direction.
On the No 50 bus, which I mentioned last month, several members have raised concerns about parking and the lack of double yellow lines along parts of the route through Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs. If you have any input, feedback or questions on this issue please do let us know so we can consider raising it to BCP as appropriate.
It’s not all doom and gloom with BCP…
Last month saw the launch of the new BCP Life Card. For £10 a year local residents can access discounts on selected council services, parking and participating local businesses. Find out more here.
Has anyone signed up yet? Do let me know what you think.
Membership reminder and appeal for volunteers
Our annual membership is now £10 for individual members and £7 per flat for block memberships. I’m also pleased to say that our new online joining process is now live making it much quicker and easier to join BPCCRA.
Could you help BPCCRA? We’re always looking for volunteers and currently have two Executive Committee vacancies: Honorary Secretary and Special Projects Lead. The latter plays an important role in developing community projects, preparing CIL funding bids and supporting our wonderful Pinecliff Gardens volunteer team.
If you’d like to find out more, please contact me at ChairBPCCRA@pinesandchines.co.uk
BPCCRA Open Meeting & Summer Social – this Wednesday
Wednesday 12 August, 7.30pm
Committee Room, St Aldhelm’s Church Hall
Our summer meeting will be followed by a social and glass of wine from 8.30–9.15pm. The usual chance to meet fellow members and the Committee and exchange views, ideas and concerns.
My thanks, as always, for your continuing support and for helping us do the best we can for our community and protect the natural assets that make our area so special.
Andrea Charman
Chair, BPCCRA
August 2026
