The Bournemouth One News Centre

All the news you need for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole with travel information and national headlines.

• Treasury minister tours JP Morgan site

  A Treasury minister has visited Bournemouth as JP Morgan moves ahead with its Chaseside expansion. Economic Secretary Lucy Rigby joined Bournemouth East MP Tom Hayes for a tour of the company’s campus before visiting Tuckton Tea Gardens. She met young people working at Chaseside and heard how they are learning about financial services and artificial intelligence as part of their career development. Expansion plans include a five-storey office building, a decked car park with one hundred and eighteen spaces and six hundred and fourteen cycle spaces. The development will support one thousand six hundred employees working at the Bournemouth campus.

• Petition calls for two BCP leaders to go

  A petition is calling for two senior BCP Council figures to resign from their positions. It calls for council leader Millie Earl and chief executive Aidan Dunn to step down, claiming residents, communities and businesses feel ignored by the authority. Those behind it criticise the council leadership for not holding an open public meeting and raise concerns about town centres, spending decisions and transparency. The petition also questions the handling of homelessness and public safety, while highlighting legal challenges, councillor conduct and the use of public funds. It calls for new leadership focused on residents, businesses, safety, financial responsibility and openness.

• No contractor found for Bournemouth Pier repairs

  Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is rethinking its plans for Bournemouth Pier repairs after failing to secure a contractor. The council had allocated nearly ten million pounds to restore the pier, but no suitable bids were received, highlighting the project's complexity and rising costs. As a result, the timeline has shifted, with completion now expected by early twenty twenty-eight, and the council is prioritising the removal of unsafe timber landing stages this autumn. Revised repair plans are still being developed as the council seeks an affordable solution.

• Police helping to guide parents online

  Dorset Police have released a new guide to help parents in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole manage social media controls for children. The guide offers practical advice for families, encouraging open conversations about online safety and providing step-by-step instructions for various platforms. It also points parents to further support if needed, aiming to help adults understand the digital world and reduce risks for young users. The guide is available online through Dorset Police.

• Christmas lights to return to Bournemouth

  Bournemouth town council has approved nearly sixty thousand pounds to bring Christmas lights back to four neighbourhoods. The new funding will see festive displays in Charminster, Kinson, Winton, and Moordown, after last year’s lights were cancelled due to budget cuts. Councillors described the plan as a pilot project, with eighty columns of blue and white lights to be installed, and some raised concerns about the limited coverage. The scheme could be expanded in future years depending on feedback and available funding.

• Ice creams sold every 12 seconds in BCP

  Nearly thirty thousand ice creams and lollies were sold along the BCP coastline in just four days. BCP Council recorded twenty eight thousand, eight hundred and seventy four sales at its seafront kiosks during a period that included A Level results day. That works out at roughly one ice cream or lolly every twelve seconds, as residents and visitors spent time beside the sea during sunny weather. Councillor Andy Martin said the figures showed people continued to enjoy Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s beaches, open spaces, cultural attractions and heritage. Performances are also continuing in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens this week, with four acts appearing between Wednesday and Saturday.

• Poole set for Seafood and Sounds return

  Seafood and Sounds returns to Poole next month with 2 days of music, food and activities. The festival takes place across Poole Quay, the Old Town, High Street and several other locations. More than 60 independent traders will join seafood stalls, cookery demonstrations and 40 music acts performing each day across 9 different spaces. Families can enjoy entertainment, an Oyster Trail and circus workshops, while Brownsea Island holds a Community Open Day in partnership with the National Trust. An opening parade through the Old Town will begin the weekend on Saturday morning.

• Poole Civic Centre sale talks still ongoing

  Talks are ongoing to allow Poole Town Council to use part of the former Poole Civic Centre. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is discussing retaining a section of the Grade-II listed building, which has been empty since twenty twenty-two. The sale of the building is expected to deliver annual savings and help protect frontline services. The town council hopes to use the retained area for meetings and community events.

• Fernhill residents lend a hand at farm

  Fernhill residents spent a day helping at High Mead Farm, their chosen charity this year. The group from the Longham dementia care home explored the gardens, met the animals and relaxed over packed lunches before helping with work around the farm. Residents planted radish, spinach and mixed salad leaf seeds, while the animals prompted memories of pets, gardening and experiences from earlier in their lives. Pauline Oliver remembered a guinea pig she once owned, while Vivienne Marlow enjoyed returning to vegetable planting and getting her hands muddy again. The home says the visit helped residents remain involved in their community while supporting the farm’s ongoing work.