Bournemouth-based charity We Are Humans has criticised the BCP Council’s plans to brighten up the seaside town, arguing that funds would be better spent addressing homelessness.
The charity was reacting to the council’s plan to invest £358,000 in new artwork, street lights, and modernising digital infrastructure to boost local engagement and attract tourists.
“I don’t see how a bit of artwork is going to fix the issues here in the town centre,” said Andrew Talbot of We Are Humans. “That money would be better spent on reinstating the night shelter that we had here.”
The charity provides food and essentials to those in need every Saturday in the town centre.
Tim Penson volunteers with the charity. He termed the council’s proposal an inappropriate use of funds.
“It’s all showboating,” he said. “It looks pretty for other people to look at, but the reality is these people haven’t chosen to be here. Anyone could be in this situation.”
Bartlomiej Dymecki, who is 28 and homeless, has witnessed how the town centre has changed over time. He said: “What is going on here? There’s plenty of money going in, but there’s nothing going on here.”
Hestia Kattner, another volunteer for We Are Humans, feels the council should use the money to improve the healthcare system. She said: “I think we need more to help with the NHS and mental health, because it’s a stigma. They need to do something with mental health.”
Councillor Mike Cox said that the council’s finances were in such a difficult position that it was trying to arrest the threat to key services such as homelessness. So, the plan to revitalise the town centre, he said, “is actually putting money back into looking after the homeless and improving the town centre.”
