Sustainable Environment

What is this theme about?

The key issues being considered are:

• Lack of affordable, safe and accessible transport to access key services for people with disabilities, or who are on low incomes or who have no access to a car
• Lack of key services in certain neighbourhoods leading to additional car use
• Bus services are perceived to be unreliable and not readily available
• Lack of investment in transport services and the highway infrastructure
• Increasing traffic congestion on key routes in and out of Bournemouth and its key commercial areas
• Lack of real transport alternatives to cars
• The number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads
• The impact on the highway and transport infrastructure that is being and will continue to be caused by economic growth
• Strategic road links across the South East Dorset conurbation and to the national highway network are relatively poor
• Ongoing investment in the maintenance of quality green space
• Potential loss of habitats and biodiversity
• Detrimental impact on the environment of anti-social activities
• The predicted effect of climate change
• The use of fossil fuel is adding to greenhouse gases and contributing to climate change
• Fossil fuels are a finite resource - UK sources are running out and we are becoming dependent on supplies from other countries who may decide to interrupt or cut supplies
• We need to reduce the amount of waste we put in landfills to reduce pollution, minimise chemical contamination of the ground and water courses, to conserve resources and the lack of space for new landfill sites
• In 2003 a Private Sector House Conditions Survey was undertaken in Bournemouth.The survey found that according to government guidance 14% of the private stock was “non-decent’ due to unsatisfactory condition or inadequate amenity
• Of the stock deemed “non-decent” 22.7% were assessed as unfit for habitation, this equates to 3.2% of all private stock
• The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) anticipate economic growth for South East Dorset, and a significant increase in the number of homes
• Additional growth will also result from the extra 15,600 homes that are required to be provided in the town by 2026
• There is a high proportion of single people (33.8% of the population) and those in one person households (35.3%)
• There is a lack of affordable housing in Bournemouth as shown by the high number of people on the Council’s waiting list and high house prices in the area as compared to income levels
• Bournemouth has a relatively high proportion of empty homes.These need to be brought back into use wherever possible