Councillor criticises planning failures after ice rink leaves mark on Bournemouth Gardens
A BCP councillor says there’s been a clear failure of planning after Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens were left damaged by a winter ice rink that never received permission
A councillor has criticised what she called a “clear failure of planning” after damage was left behind in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens following the removal of a winter ice rink that was never granted planning permission.
The rink, part of Bournemouth’s Christmas attractions, operated throughout the festive period despite some councillors raising concerns over Biodiversity Net Gain legislation and the felling of a cherry tree.
While the decision to grant permission was set to be made by planning officers, these issues meant the proposal had to be referred to the planning committee with a recommendation for refusal.
However, the application never returned to committee. It was withdrawn in early January after the event had already taken place.
In the weeks since the rink’s closure, the Green Party has raised concerns about the condition of the gardens, describing visible damage where the attraction once stood.
A BCP Green Party spokesperson said that although early signs of new growth were emerging, large sections of grass remained in poor condition.
They said that although winter events could benefit the town centre and local businesses, they must be delivered transparently, especially when involving protected public spaces.
They questioned why the application was allowed to proceed without approval and why it was never reconsidered by councillors before the event took place.
Green councillor Sara Armstrong said the case highlighted failures in planning oversight and protection of a heritage asset.
She accused both BCP Council and the Lower Gardens Trust of “failing in their duty of care” and called for the issue to be examined by the council’s overview and scrutiny process.
BCP Council has confirmed it is reviewing next steps following the withdrawal of the planning application.
In a statement, a council spokesperson said they were aware of the condition of the grass in the Lower Gardens and confirmed a reinstatement agreement is in place with the ice rink operator.
They added that the operator would cover the cost of the work required to restore the site.