Bournemouth’s ‘thriving’ town centre claim challenged as figures show just 10 net new businesses
BCP Council leader Millie Earl is being urged to walk the streets of Bournemouth after claiming the high street was “thriving”
Claims that 40 businesses have opened in Bournemouth town centre over the past year have been challenged by opposition councillors, after figures supplied by BCP Council showed a considerably smaller increase.
Council Leader Millie Earl described the town centre as “thriving” in an interview last week, saying 40 new business had opened in the last 12 months.
But according to a council-supplied list of 41 businesses, only 27 had opened between October 2025 and October 2026 and in that time at least 17 businesses closed, leaving a net increase of just 10.
The figures have prompted opposition group leaders to question the council’s perception of the town centre and call for greater attention to businesses that have shut.
Conservative group leader Cllr John Beesley said he was “appalled” by what he described as the administration’s casual approach to the issue.
“We have been told by the council leader that Bournemouth town centre is ‘thriving’. I can assure her that it is not,” Cllr Beasley added.
He invited Cllr Earl to walk through Bournemouth with him to see the situation first-hand.
Reform UK group leader Cllr Duane Farr said celebrating new businesses did not provide a complete picture of the high street.
“We have seen a significant number of businesses have shut their doors,” he said. “Bournemouth town centre has enormous potential, but there are real challenges facing our high streets.”
Cllr Farr said residents and traders deserved a balanced account of what’s happening - one that acknowledged closures, empty units and the pressures facing existing businesses.
He argued that the council should focus not only on attracting new operators but also on creating conditions that allow established businesses to survive.
“We need to know what the council is doing to support existing businesses, attract investment, bring life back to our high streets and ensure Bournemouth remains a destination people want to visit,” he said.
BCP Labour group leader Cllr Patrick Canavan said there was “considerable public scepticism” about the state of the town centre.
He described statements about its performance as “factually dubious” and said residents needed to see visible improvements.
Patrick Canavan called on the BCP administration to prioritise regeneration and efforts to prevent further closures while encouraging new businesses to open.