Latest news with #ChristchurchandPoole
BBC News
15-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Air quality animation created for Dorset schoolchildren
A new animation has been created for schoolchildren to highlight the dangers of air pollution and encourage positive changes in travel is part of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council's Clean Air Schools project and was created by local animator Rowena project is funded by Defra's Air Quality Fund and is part of a wider £120,000 investment in air quality improvement initiatives by BCP Sheehan said it had been a "privilege" to work on the project to help children understand that "air pollution is a serious issue". The project has been created to help raise awareness of how air pollution affects young people, particularly the one in 11 children in the UK who have animation will be promoted via school communications, ensuring it reaches as many families as possible. The council has been working alongside active travel charity project aims to increase active travel, cut engine idling outside schools, improving air quality and protecting children's Andy Hadley, portfolio holder for the environment at BCP Council, said: "Air pollution is an invisible but serious problem, especially for children. "This animation is a fantastic way to help children, and their families understand the impact of air quality and how small changes, like switching off car engines or choosing active travel, can make a big difference."Animator Rowena Sheehan said: "It's been a privilege to work on this project and create something visually engaging and informative for local schools."Air pollution is a serious issue, but animation allows us to present it in a way that children can easily understand and share with their families." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
19-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
BCP Council invests almost £4m in play areas for children
A council has invested almost £4m to revitalise more than 100 play Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has secured £3.9m funding through the Community Infrastructure Levy, £435,000 of which will be used to carry out of the work includes a new seesaw in Littledown, a replacement goal in Southbourne and fixed swing seats in Christchurch. Councillor Sandra Moore said she was "thrilled to see this investment into upgrading spaces that are crucial for children's development". The project is due to be carried out of the next two years and forms part of the council's five-year Plan for Play strategy, which was approved in authority said it was the largest investment in its history and would ensure children were given the best opportunities to thrive in sustainable, and maintained, play Moore said: "Some of our best memories as children are formed whilst playing with friends and that should be no different for the next generation."Well maintained play areas can boost a child's confidence, give them opportunities to socialise, and ultimately improve their physical and mental health."The breadth of this project shows the importance of every community in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole - and our commitment, as a council, to giving everyone the best opportunities in life." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Council announces £20m investment in green vehicles
A local authority has announced a multi-million pound investment into environmentally friendly vehicles across its fleet. The £20m Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council scheme will see the authority replace vehicles reaching the end of their life with lower carbon alternatives. It is the second stage of the council's plan to make its fleet greener, and will see 280 new vehicles purchased over the next three years. The investment means residents will "benefit from lower carbon emissions", BCP Council said. Andy Hadley, the authority's environment chief, said the scheme marked a "significant step" towards its plan to be carbon neutral by 2030. "Phase Two of this scheme will allow the council to build on its successful first phase and will place BCP amongst leading councils in transitioning towards operating a green fleet," he said. "This new investment ensures we can continue to deliver on our promise of making Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole a better place for everyone." Phase one of the council's scheme began in 2021 with seven electric bin lorries and 67 electric vans. The authority said it had so far resulted in annual carbon emissions being cut by 250 tonnes every year. It operates more than 600 vehicles across BCP, and said it anticipated that around a quarter of these will be electric by 2028. BCP Council's Cabinet unanimously approved the scheme's funding at a meeting on Wednesday. The final decision will be considered at a full council meeting in the coming weeks. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flood-risk park home residents urged to evacuate
People living on a residential park at risk of flooding were advised to evacuate overnight due to rapidly rising river levels. The homes at Iford Bridge Home Park near the River Stour were under threat following Storm Eowyn and Storm Herminia. Mains power at the site was turned off on Tuesday evening with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council urging residents to leave as a precautionary measure. A flood warning remains in place. BCP Council said it had staff onsite at Iford Bridge Home Park to check residents, who had chosen to remain in their homes, were safe and supported. Mains power will remain off at the site until it is safe to reinstate, the authority said. It added it would continue to support residents on Wednesday, and in the coming days. It is the second time the residents have been affected by flooding in recent months - the river burst its banks, following heavy rainfall brought by Storm Bert in November. Firefighters rescued 12 people and four dogs from their flooded homes at the park near Bournemouth. There are currently 13 flood warnings across Dorset. Under a flood warning, people should move their families and pets to a safe place, and vehicles to higher ground, turn off the gas, electricity and water and if available, put flood protection in place. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Flooded park home residents able to return Fire crews rescue 12 people from flooded park homes BCP Council Environment Agency: Flood alerts and warnings
BBC News
27-01-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bournemouth mums back MP's call for playground improvements
"It's heart-breaking," says mum-of-two Karen Shearer as she looks at the rundown playground behind her."They loved coming here before school, after school, let off that bit of energy, takes them off their screen."Ms Shearer is one of the parents in Boscombe that says the local playground has deteriorated so badly their children no longer want to play the councillor in charge of parks and gardens at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has told BBC Politics South the authority has been forced to close some playparks "because we haven't the money to keep maintaining them". Kings Park had new wooden play equipment and a zip wire installed in November 2016, but much of it has weathered and become unsafe. In 2024 it was Shearer has two young children and says the adventure play equipment was very popular with them before it was removed: "My children enjoyed it so much. "They don't have that much time for sport in school. They've got nature here, trees, it's outdoor space, it's what's needed". BCP Council has an annual budget of more than £320m, with £150,000 being spent on parks and gardens annually. Councillor Andy Hadley, the portfolio holder for Climate, Environment and Energy at BCP Council, says they have spent the last two years reviewing all their 171 parks."Some we have had to close because we haven't the money to keep maintaining them," he says."We've actually had to stop doing the maintenance so we've had to say 'sorry, we can't fix that piece of kit, work out whether it's safe or not and if not, close it'." Parents are worried about the long-term impact on children. Niamh Fletcher-Kennedy says that because of it, children will spend too much time on screens, rather than playing outside."I've got two kids", Ms Fletcher-Kennedy explains, "it was their favourite thing to do and now if you ask them 'do you want to go to the playground?' the answer's 'no' because there's nothing to do and it's actually quite depressing to look at".She added that "there are hundreds of kids that use the park". The situation in Boscombe has now been highlighted in Parliament. Bournemouth East Labour MP Tom Hayes held a debate on improving public parks earlier this month. "I want politicians to care about children. Children are losing out on so many opportunities to make friends, have better mental health, to learn skills. "Parents are missing out on opportunities to make friendships," he MP added that "for 17 years Parliament hasn't talked about parks for more than an hour" and says it is "no wonder we've got playgrounds in such a state"."We've got to move from words to actually doing something," he says. "I'm calling on BCP Council to bring forward investment and a clear sense of when playgrounds are going to improve, and calling on the government to bring out the first national play strategy since 2008." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
