The Poole Engage Party is a local political party on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council . Until December 2022, the party was known as the Poole Local Group .
86-707: The Party for Poole People (known simply as Poole People ) is a movement and local political party in Poole , Dorset, England. Defining itself as neither left or right wing , the party has stood in elections for the former Poole Borough Council and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council which replaced it . On the council it is part of the Poole Independents Group, which includes all three Poole People Councillors, one Alliance for Local Living (ALL) Councillor and one independent Councillor. It
172-616: A Conservative councillor in 2012 to the party brought its number up to four in total. In the 2015 council election, the Conservatives gained a Hamworthy East seat whilst Poole People gained a Conservative seat in Hamworthy West, meaning that the party remained on three seats in total. In the 2017 General Election , party leader Mark Howell stood for the parliamentary seat of Poole , where he received 1,776 votes (3.7%), coming sixth out of seven. In 2019, Poole Borough Council
258-514: A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) , a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar site as well as falling within the Dorset National Landscape area. The harbour covers an area of 15 square miles (11 sq nmi; 39 km ) and is extremely shallow. The main shipping channels are 7.5 metres (25 ft) deep the average depth of the harbour is 48 centimetres (1 ft 7 in). It contains several small islands,
344-584: A court of record , magistrates' court , court of admiralty and a venue for quarter sessions . Between 1819 and 1821 the building was consecrated as a parish church while the old St. James Church was pulled down and replaced with the present church. During the Second World War , the building was used as a canteen and meeting room for American soldiers before the invasion of France . The showers and washing facilities installed at this time were later converted into public baths which were used until
430-705: A semi-professional team who play in the Southern Football League – the seventh tier of the English football league system . Established in 1880, the team has had erratic success at their level; they have never risen above non-League levels but once reached the third round of the FA Cup . They played at Poole Stadium until 1994 and have since settled at Tatnam Farm, sharing the school playing field with Oakdale Junior School. Poole's other football teams are Hamworthy United , formed in 1970, and play in
516-501: A 6-hectare (15-acre) Conservation Area was created in the town centre in 1975 to preserve Poole's most notable buildings. The Poole explosion of 1988 caused 3,500 people to be evacuated out of the town centre in the biggest peacetime evacuation the country had seen since the World War II . There is one tier of local government covering Poole, at unitary authority level: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council , which
602-531: A base for supplies to the allied forces in Europe. Eighty-one landing craft containing American troops from the 29th Infantry Division and the US Army Rangers departed Poole Harbour for Omaha Beach . Poole was also an important centre for the development of Combined Operations and the base for a US Coast Guard rescue flotilla of 60 cutters . Much of the town suffered from German bombing during
688-529: A base to raid and pillage Wessex. Following the Norman conquest of England , Poole rapidly grew into a busy port as the importance of Wareham declined. The town was part of the manor of Canford but does not exist as an identifiable entry in the Domesday Book . The earliest written mention of Poole occurred on a document from 1196 describing the newly built St James's Chapel in "La Pole". The Lord of
774-451: A county corporate. Poole is represented by three parliamentary constituencies in the House of Commons ; Poole , Mid Dorset and North Poole , and Bournemouth West . The borough constituency of Poole has existed since 1950. Previously the town had been a parliamentary borough , electing two members of parliament from 1455 until 1865 when representation was reduced to one member. In 1885
860-563: A popular tourist destination extending 3 miles (4.8 km) along Poole Bay from the Sandbanks peninsular to Branksome Dene Chine at the border with Bournemouth . The beaches are divided into four areas: Sandbanks, Shore Road, Canford Cliffs Chine and Branksome Chine. Poole's beaches have been awarded the European Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety 21 times since 1987, more than any other British seaside resort and in 2000
946-500: A wide estuary . At the mouth of the estuary sand spits have been deposited, enclosing the estuary to create Poole Harbour. The harbour is the largest natural harbour in Europe and the second-largest natural harbour in the world after Sydney Harbour . It is an area of international importance for nature conservation and is noted for its ecology, supporting salt marshes , mudflats and an internationally important habitat for several species of migrating bird . It has been designated
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#17327916504991032-466: Is 21 miles (34 km) east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council . The town had an estimated population of 151,500 (mid-2016 census estimates) making it the second-largest town in the ceremonial county of Dorset. Together with Bournemouth and Christchurch , the conurbation has a total population of nearly 400,000. The settlement dates back to before
1118-836: Is Christianity, at almost 74.34%, slightly above the United Kingdom average of 71.6%. The next-largest sector is those with no religion, at almost 16.23%, also above the UK average of 15.5%. The average house price in Poole is high compared to the rest of the UK and the surrounding south-west region . The average price of a property in Poole in 2008 was £274,011; detached houses were on average £374,150, semi-detached and terraced houses were cheaper at £226,465 and £217,128 respectively. An apartment or flat costs on average £216,097, more than any other part of Dorset. The average house prices in Poole are boosted by those in Sandbanks which had
1204-414: Is England's longest national trail . Due to its location on the south coast of England, Poole has a temperate climate with a small variation in daily and annual temperatures. The average annual mean temperature from 1971 to 2000 was 10.2–12 °C (50.4–53.6 °F). The warmest months in Poole are July and August, which have an average temperature range of 12 to 22 °C (54 to 72 °F), and
1290-475: Is Poole's main retail area and the largest indoor shopping centre in Dorset. It opened in 1969 as an Arndale Centre and underwent three major refurbishments in 1980, 1989 and 2004. The centre provides 47,000 square metres (510,000 sq ft) of retail space with 110 stores and two multi-storey car parks with 1,400 parking spaces. A pedestrianised high street with shops, bars, pubs and restaurants connects
1376-452: Is a visitor attraction to the south of the town centre lined with a mixture of traditional pubs and listed buildings alongside new bars, redeveloped warehouses and apartment blocks. Once the busy centre of Poole's maritime industry , all port activities moved to Hamworthy in the 1970s as the Quay became increasingly popular with tourists. The Grade II* listed Customs House on the quay-front
1462-522: Is based at the Civic Centre in Bournemouth . Poole was an ancient borough , which lay within the ancient parish of Canford Magna . The borough acquired its first charter in 1248 from William Longespée , who was lord of the manor . A chapel of ease dedicated to St James existed at Poole from at least 1142. In 1538, the borough was removed from the parish of Canford Magna to become its own parish, called Poole St James. In 1568, Poole
1548-591: Is characterised by lowland heathland to the north and wooded chines and coastline to the south. The heathland habitat supports the six native British reptile species and provides a home for a range of dragonflies and rare birds. Development has destroyed much of the heath but scattered fragments remain to the north of Poole and have been designated Special Protection Areas . The town lies on unresistant beds of Eocene clays (mainly London Clay and Gault Clay ), sands and gravels. The River Frome runs through this weak rock, and its many tributaries have carved out
1634-684: Is served by the Port of Poole . Since the 1970s, Poole has become one of Britain's busiest ports. Investment in new port facilities in Hamworthy and the deepening of shipping channels allowed considerable growth in cross-channel freight and passenger traffic. The port is a destination for bulk cargo imports such as steel, timber, bricks, fertiliser, grain, aggregates and palletised traffic. Export cargoes include clay, sand, fragmented steel and grain. Commercial ferry operators run regular passenger and freight services from Poole to Cherbourg , St Malo and
1720-607: Is the largest port in terms of licences in the SSFDC district which covers the coastline of Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , and one of the largest registered fishing fleets in the UK. However, the fleet is gradually declining because of rising fuel costs and restrictive fishing quotas introduced by the European Union . A large number of unlicensed boats also operate charted or private angling excursions. Poole Quay
1806-827: The Anglican Church of St Osmund, in a Neo-Byzantine style building; and the Parish Church of St. Aldhelm in Branksome , built by the architects Bodley and Garner in 1892 in the Gothic Revival style. Described by English Heritage as "one of Poole's most important landmarks", the Gothic Revival church of St Mary's in Longfleet , built in 1833, is one of Poole's Grade II listed churches. There are also two Christadelphian meeting halls in
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#17327916504991892-724: The Channel Islands . The Royal Marines operate out of the harbour at RM Poole , established in Hamworthy in 1954. The base is home to special forces unit the Special Boat Service and a detachment of the Royal Marines Reserve . In 2008, 105 fishing boats were registered and licensed to the port and held a permit issued by the Southern Sea Fisheries District Committee (SSFDC) to fish commercially. It
1978-521: The Iron Age . The earliest recorded use of the town's name was in the 12th century when the town began to emerge as an important port, prospering with the introduction of the wool trade . Later, the town had important trade links with North America and, at its peak during the 18th century, it was one of the busiest ports in Britain. In the Second World War , Poole was one of the main departing points for
2064-585: The Neolithic period at Hengistbury Head . During the 3rd century BC, Celtic-speaking people known as the Durotriges moved from hilltop settlements at Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings to heathland around the River Frome and Poole Harbour . The Romans landed at Poole during their conquest of Britain in the 1st century and took over an Iron Age settlement at Hamworthy , an area just west of
2150-581: The Normandy landings . Poole is a tourist resort, attracting visitors with its large natural harbour , history, the Lighthouse arts centre and Blue Flag beaches . The town has a commercial port with cross-Channel freight and passenger ferry services, which connect with the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey , as well as the French port town of Saint-Malo , Brittany . The headquarters of
2236-596: The Oakdale ward , alongside Poole People Councillor Pete Miles. The Hamworthy ward elected two councillors from Poole People. However, in October of that year two councillors resigned from the party and group to sit as independents, citing concerns about the leader and “the binds of the political whip”. Councillor Butt left the Unity Alliance administration at the time, with Councillor Bagwell subsequently leaving
2322-530: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth . Poole has many sites of Christian worship including five Grade II* and five Grade II listed churches, but no notable sites of worship for any other major religious groups . The Grade II* St James' Church is a simplified Gothic Revival style Church of England parish church in the Old Town which was rebuilt in 1820. The previous church on the site
2408-689: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is in Poole, and the Royal Marines have a base in the town's harbour. Despite their names, Poole is the home of The Arts University Bournemouth , the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a significant part of Bournemouth University . The area around modern Poole has been inhabited for at least the past 2,500 years, with nearby Christchurch Harbour evidencing human activity dating back to
2494-591: The South East Dorset conurbation which has a combined population of over 465,000, forming one of the South Coast's major urban areas. In the 2011 census , the population of the borough of Poole was 147,645, an increase from 138,288 in 2001 . The town has a built-up area of 25 square miles (65 km ), giving an approximate population density of 5,532 inhabitants per square mile (2,136/km ) in 60,512 dwellings. The population has grown steadily since
2580-536: The Tidy Britain Group resort survey rated Poole's beaches among the top five in the country. Along the seafront, there are seaside cafés, restaurants, beach huts and numerous water-sports facilities. Royal National Lifeboat Institution Beach Rescue lifeguards patrol the coastline in the busy summer season between May and September. Poole falls within the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury and
2666-480: The service sector as office-based employers relocated to the area. The importance of manufacturing has declined since the 1960s but still employed approximately 17% of the workforce in 2002 and remains more prominent than in the economy of Great Britain as a whole. Sunseeker , the world's largest privately owned builder of motor yachts and the UK's largest manufacturer, is based in Poole and employs over 1,800 people in its Poole shipyards . Other major employers in
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2752-579: The 1948 arms were transferred to Poole Borough Council. In 1976, the council received the grant of supporters for the coat of arms. The supporters refer to important charters given to the town; to the left is a gold lion holding a long sword representing William Longespee who in 1248 granted the town's first charter; on the right is a dragon derived from the Royal Arms of Elizabeth I who granted Poole county corporate status in 1568. The Latin motto – Ad Morem Villae De Poole , means: According to
2838-445: The 1960s, inward migration has accounted for most of the town's growth and a significant part of this has been for retirement. Housing stock has increased by over 100 per cent in the past 40 years from 30,000 in 1961 to approximately 62,700 in 2004. Compared to the rest of England and Wales , Poole has an above-average number of residents aged over 65 (20.3%), but this is less than the Dorset average of 22.2%. The largest proportion of
2924-463: The 1960s. The building was converted for use as the town museum between 1971 and 1991 but stood empty for the next 16 years. After a renovation project funded by Poole Borough Council, the restored Guildhall opened in June 2007 as a Register Office for weddings, civil partnerships and other civic ceremonies. Poole has several urban parks – the largest is Poole Park adjacent to Poole Harbour and
3010-464: The 1970s, Poole's less restrictive regional planning policies attracted businesses wishing to relocate from London. These included employers in the banking and financial sector, such as Barclays Bank (who operated Barclays House as a regional headquarters in Poole), American Express Bank and the corporate trust division of Bank of New York Mellon . Other important service sector employers include
3096-460: The 19th century and the villages to the east of Poole began to grow and merge until the seaside resort of Bournemouth emerged. Although Poole did not become a resort, like many of its neighbours, it continued to prosper as the rapid expansion of Bournemouth created a large demand for goods manufactured in Poole. During World War II , Poole was the third-largest embarkation point for D-Day landings of Operation Overlord and afterwards served as
3182-561: The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole councillors representing wards in the former borough of Poole. The trustees preserve the town's civic charters and traditions, including appointing one of their number each year to serve as mayor and another to serve as sheriff; these roles are now purely honorary with no practical functions. Poole is one of only fifteen towns and cities across England and Wales which appoint their own sheriff, with Poole's right to do so stemming from its former status as
3268-814: The Conservative Party, hence the creation of Poole Engage. With the founding of the group, the council once again became a hung council with no overall control , the Conservatives put into a minority administration. The party changed its name in December 2022. They stood 16 candidates in the 2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election . Only party leader Judes Butt in Creekmoor and Julie Bagwell in Hamworthy were re-elected. The group had 5 members from 2022 to 2023: Following
3354-636: The Conservatives as the largest party but without a majority , which lead to the creation of the majority Unity Alliance Administration, a coalition of parties in which Poole People joined led by the Liberal Democrats, the second largest party on the council. As well as joining the administration, Poole People also formed a grouping with the Alliance for Local Living , called Poole People and ALL. The Alliance for Local Living's leader and single councillor, Felicity Rice won alongside one of two seats in
3440-723: The Custom of the Town of Poole , and derives from the Great Charter of 1568. Poole is a complex shore of the English Channel ; it lies on the northern and eastern edges of Poole Harbour , 97 miles (156 km) west-southwest of London. The oldest part of the town (including the historic Old Town, Poole Quay and the Dolphin Shopping Centre ) lies to the south-east of Holes Bay on a peninsula jutting into
3526-535: The Dolphin Centre with the historic Old Town area and Poole Quay. Tourism is important to the Poole's economy and was worth an estimated £158 million in 2002. Poole's Harbour, Quay and the beaches are some of the main attractions for visitors. Visitor accommodation consists of hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast rooms located around the town, particularly in Sandbanks and the town centre. Poole
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3612-550: The Manor , Sir William Longspée , sold a charter of liberties to the burgesses of Poole in 1248 to raise funds for his participation in the Seventh Crusade . Consequently, Poole gained a small measure of freedom from feudal rule and acquired the right to appoint a mayor and hold a court within the town. Poole's growing importance was recognised in 1433 when it was awarded staple port status by King Henry VI , enabling
3698-610: The Newfoundland fisheries and other nations took over services provided by Poole's merchants at a lower cost. Poole's Newfoundland trade rapidly declined and within a decade most merchants had ceased trading. The town grew rapidly during the Industrial Revolution as urbanisation took place and the town became an area of mercantile prosperity and overcrowded poverty. At the turn of the 19th century, nine out of ten workers were engaged in harbour activities, but as
3784-739: The Royal Motor Yacht Club. Parkstone Yacht Club hosted the OK Dinghy World Championships in 2004, the J/24 National Championships in 2006 and the J/24 European Championships in 2007, with the 2020 J24 Worlds hosted here also and are the organisers of Youth Week and Poole Week – two of the largest annual dinghy regattas of their type in the country. Poole's oldest football team is Poole Town F.C. ,
3870-731: The Wessex Premier League, and the amateur team Poole Borough F.C. who play in the Dorset Premier League . Poole is one of the largest towns in England without a professional football team. Poole Local Group The group was formed in June 2022 by five councillors. Four out of the five members were deselected by the Poole Conservative Association for the 2023 election . They successfully appealed but they decided not to return to
3956-543: The administration in September 2020. As such, Poole People currently has five sitting councillors. A vote of no confidence was passed in September 2020, with Conservatives taking minority administration of the council after a meeting on 1 October, meaning that Poole People is currently in opposition. Two further Poole People councillors (Steve Baron and Peter Miles) subsequently left the group in November 2020, stating that
4042-413: The boroughs of Bournemouth and Christchurch to become a new local government district called Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole , the council of which is a unitary authority. The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole district remains part of the ceremonial county of Dorset for the purposes of lieutenancy . Since the abolition of Poole Borough Council in 2019, Poole has had charter trustees , being
4128-443: The century progressed, ships became too large for the shallow harbour and the port lost business to the deepwater ports at Liverpool , Southampton and Plymouth . Poole's first railway station opened in Hamworthy in 1847 and later extended to the centre of Poole in 1872, effectively ending the port's busy coastal shipping trade. The beaches and landscape of southern Dorset and south-west Hampshire began to attract tourists during
4214-659: The competitors as well as previously a Disco on the Saturday evening which has since been scrapped, hundreds of competitors from across the country compete each year, the competition celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019. Following a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is hoped it will return in 2022. Poole Harbour is one of the largest centres for sailing in the UK with a number of yacht clubs such as the: East Dorset Sailing Club, Lilliput Sailing Club, Parkstone Yacht Club, Poole Yacht Club, Sandbanks Yacht Company and
4300-499: The constituency was abolished altogether and absorbed into the East Dorset constituency until its reintroduction in 1950. The design of the coat of arms originated in a seal from the late 14th century and were recorded by Clarenceux King of Arms during the heraldic visitation of Dorset in 1563. The wavy bars of black and gold represent the sea and the dolphin is a sign of Poole's maritime interests. The scallop shells are
4386-544: The coolest months are January and February, which have a range of 2 to 8.3 °C (35.6 to 46.9 °F). Mean sea surface temperatures range from 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in February to 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) in August. The average annual rainfall of 592.6 millimetres (23.33 in) is well below the UK average of 1,126 millimetres (44.3 in). Poole lies at the centre of a green belt region that extends into
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#17327916504994472-460: The demand for fish from the Catholic countries of Europe. Poole's share of this trade varied but the most prosperous period started in the early 18th century and lasted until the early 19th century. The trade followed a three-cornered route; ships sailed to Newfoundland with salt and provisions, then carried dried and salted fish to Europe before returning to Poole with wine, olive oil, and salt. By
4558-555: The early 18th century Poole had more ships trading with North America than any other English port and vast wealth was brought to Poole's merchants. This prosperity supported much of the development which now characterises the Old Town where many of the medieval buildings were replaced with Georgian mansions and terraced housing . The end of the Napoleonic Wars and the conclusion of the War of 1812 ended Britain's monopoly over
4644-528: The eastern end are home to Poole Town Cricket Club and water sport activities such as sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and rowing take place on the large lake. A war memorial stands in the centre of the park as a monument to Poole citizens killed during the First and Second World Wars . The park hosts several road races such as the Race for Life and the annual Poole Festival of Running. Poole's sandy beaches are
4730-419: The emblem of Saint James and are associated with his shrine at Santiago de Compostela – a popular destination for Christian pilgrims departing from Poole Harbour in the Middle Ages . The arms were confirmed by the College of Arms on 19 June 1948, and at the same time, the crest (a mermaid supporting an anchor and holding a cannonball) was granted. Following local government reorganisation in 1974,
4816-425: The fourth-most expensive house prices in the world in 2000; in 2007 the average house price was £488,761. A study in 2006 by the National Housing Federation reported that Poole was the most unaffordable town in which to live in the UK. Poole's economy is more balanced than the rest of Dorset. In the 1960s, prosperity was fuelled by growth in the manufacturing sector , whereas the 1980s and 1990s saw expansion in
4902-418: The harbour, Poole Bay and Studland Bay are also popular for recreational angling and diving. The beaches at Sandbanks are often used for sporting events such as the Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival, and the annual British Beach polo Championship. Since 1999, the town's Rossmore Leisure Centre has hosted the GMPD Poole Gymnastics Competition every October with the Holiday Inn Express hosting some of
4988-492: The harbour, although much of the land to the east of the peninsula has been reclaimed from the harbour since the mid-20th century. To the west is Upton and Corfe Mullen and across the northern border at the River Stour lies Wimborne Minster . At the eastern edge of Poole, the town abuts Bournemouth and the settlements of Kinson , Winton and Westbourne . To the south of Poole along the coast lies Poole Bay , which has 3 miles (4.8 km) of sandy beaches from Sandbanks in
5074-402: The largest is Brownsea Island , a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and the birthplace of the Scouting movement and location of the first Scout Camp . Britain's largest onshore oil field operates from Wytch Farm on the south shore of the harbour. The oil reservoirs extend under the harbour and eastwards from Sandbanks and Studland for 6.2 miles (10 km) under the sea to
5160-431: The local manufacturing industry include Lush , Siemens and Ryvita . Poole has the largest number of industrial estates in South East Dorset , including the Nuffield Industrial estate, Mannings Heath, Arena Business Park, Poole Trade Park and the Branksome Business Centre. The service sector is the principal economy of Poole; a large number of employees work for the service economy of residents or for tourists. During
5246-422: The main urban area, and while inset, are not covered by green belt. However, the isolated hamlets of Knighton, Merley Hall and Ashington are 'washed over', and development is limited in these locations. A specific function of the restrictions is to prevent further urban encroachment towards Wimborne Minster , to help maintain its historic character and surroundings. Poole merges with several other towns to form
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#17327916504995332-441: The modern town centre. This was used as a supply base for the fortress at Lake Farm, Ashington and a settlement at Vindocladia (Bradbury Rings) . The town's name may have originated around the post-Roman or Anglo-Saxon periods, and seems to have originally applied to the harbour. It is derived from the late Brittonic or early Old English words pol meaning a pool or creek. By the middle to late Anglo-Saxon period, Poole
5418-439: The mouth of Holes Bay, is Poole Bridge . Built in 1927, it is the third bridge to be located on the site since 1834. Poole Guildhall has played a varied part in the history of the town. A Grade II* listed building, the Guildhall was built in 1761 at a cost of £2,250. The new building included an open market house on the ground floor and a courtroom and offices for the town council on the first floor and has also been used as
5504-405: The national headquarters and college of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) , the UK headquarters of Fitness First , Bournemouth University and Arts University Bournemouth . Poole is also the headquarters for clothing company Animal , cosmetics manufacturer Lush, and Merlin Entertainments , the world's second-largest theme park operator after Disney . The Dolphin Shopping Centre
5590-552: The north and west of the district, mostly on the fringes of the shared border with the Purbeck and East Dorset districts. These cover landscape features and greenfield facilities including the rivers Stour and Sherford and their floodplains , the Stour Valley Way , Canford Heathland , Dunyeats Hill and Corfe and Barrow Hill nature reserves, Upton Country Park, Pergins Island , and the Wimborne District Society of Model Engineers miniature railway. The small communities at Merley, Canford Magna, Oakley and Oakley Hill are separated from
5676-420: The party had "lost its way" and that they would be more "free to speak out" as independents, thus leaving the party with just three councillors, and the Poole People and ALL BCP group with four. In June 2022, Julie Bagwell joined the Poole Local Group . In the 2023 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council election , Poole People elected five councillors. The party leader and councillor Mark Howell stood for
5762-399: The party in the Poole constituency in the 2015 election , receiving 1,766 votes (3.7%). The party did not contest the seat in the 2017 , 2019 or 2024 general elections. Poole Poole ( / p uː l / ) is a coastal town and seaport on the south coast of England in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area in Dorset , England. The town
5848-407: The party, standing in the 2010 Poole Town by-election after former Council Leader Cllr Leverett died, gaining the seat from the Conservatives. He was re-elected to his seat in the subsequent 2011 council election , with the party making two more gains from the Conservatives, in Hamworthy East and a further seat in Poole Town, bringing the number of councillors up to three. The subsequent defection by
5934-562: The population (24.8%) is between the ages of 45 to 64, slightly above the national average of 23.8%. Population projections have predicted a continual growth; a population of 151,481 is estimated by 2016. The district is overwhelmingly populated by people of a White ethnic background, 95.98% of residents are of White British ethnicity, well above the rest of England at 86.99%. Minority ethnic groups (including those in White ethnic groups who did not classify themselves as British) represent 4.0% of Poole's population. The largest religion in Poole
6020-410: The port to begin exporting wool and in turn granting a licence for the construction of a town wall. In 1568, Poole gained further autonomy when it was granted legal independence from Dorset and made a county corporate by the Great Charter of Elizabeth I . During the English Civil War , Poole's puritan stance and its merchants' opposition to the ship money tax introduced by King Charles I led to
6106-408: The quay during the summer and provide cruises around the harbour and to Brownsea Island , the River Frome and Swanage . Public artworks along the Quay include Sea Music – a large metal sculpture designed by Sir Anthony Caro , and a life-size bronze sculpture of Robert Baden-Powell created to celebrate the founding of the Scout Movement on Brownsea Island. At the western end of the quay, near
6192-648: The south of Bournemouth. Situated directly to the east of the Jurassic Coast , Poole is a gateway town to the UNESCO World Heritage Site , which includes 95 miles (153 km) of the Dorset and east Devon coast important for its geology, landforms and rich fossil record . The South West Coast Path stretches for 630 miles (1,010 km) from Minehead in Somerset, along the coast of Devon and Cornwall and on to Poole. The path
6278-505: The town centre. It opened in 1890 and is one of two Victorian parks in Poole. Designated a Conservation Area in 1995 and awarded a Green Flag in 2008, the park comprises 44.3 hectares (109 acres) of which 24 hectares (59 acres) include the park's human-made lake and ponds. The park contains two children's play areas, a miniature railway , tennis courts, a bowling green , a miniature golf course, an Italian restaurant and an indoor ice rink for children. A cricket field and pavilion at
6364-626: The town declaring for Parliament . Poole escaped any large-scale attack and with the Royalists on the brink of defeat in 1646, the Parliamentary garrison from Poole laid siege to and captured the nearby Royalist stronghold at Corfe Castle . Poole established successful commerce with the North American colonies in the 16th century, including the important fisheries of Newfoundland . Trade with Newfoundland grew steadily to meet
6450-471: The town. Poole Harbour and Poole Bay are popular areas for recreational pursuits such as: sailing, windsurfing , surfing , kitesurfing and water skiing . The harbour's large areas of sheltered waters attract windsurfers, particularly around the northern and eastern shores. Water skiing takes place in the harbour in a specially designated area known as the Wareham Channel. The waters around
6536-490: The war - in which the Municipal Borough lost 75 civilian lives - and years of neglect in the post-war economic decline . Major redevelopment projects began in the 1950s and 1960s and large areas of slum properties were demolished and replaced with modern public housing and facilities. Many of Poole's historic buildings were demolished during this period, particularly in the Old Town area of Poole. Consequently,
6622-615: The west to Bournemouth in the east. Urban areas and districts of the town Poole is made up of numerous suburbs and neighbourhoods, many of which developed from villages or hamlets that were absorbed into Poole as the town grew. Alderney – Bearwood – Branksome – Branksome Park – Broadstone – Canford Cliffs – Canford Heath – Creekmoor – Fleetsbridge – Hamworthy – Lilliput – Longfleet – Merley – Oakley – Newtown – Oakdale – Parkstone – Penn Hill – Sandbanks – Sterte – Talbot Village – Wallisdown – Waterloo – Whitecliff The natural environment of Poole
6708-478: The wider surrounding counties. It is in place to reduce urban sprawl , prevent the towns in the South East Dorset conurbation from further convergence, protect the identity of outlying communities, and preserve nearby countryside. This is achieved by restricting inappropriate development within the designated areas and imposing stricter conditions on permitted building. Poole has areas of green belt to
6794-433: Was combined with those of Bournemouth and Christchurch to form a new unitary authority ; In the inaugural 2019 council elections for the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council , Poole People stood eight councillors in five wards out of the twelve wards entirely within the former Poole Borough ( Talbot and Branksome Woods had a small area in the former borough), with seven councillors elected. The election saw
6880-469: Was built in 1814 and now functions as a restaurant and bar. Nearby the Grade I listed Town Cellars, a medieval warehouse built in the 15th century on the foundations of a 14th-century stone building, houses a local history centre. Scaplen's Court , another Grade I listed building, also dates from the medieval era. Poole Pottery has been redeveloped into an apartment block . Boats regularly depart from
6966-610: Was first mentioned in documents from 1142 and had been extensively rebuilt in the 16th century, but in 1819 it was deemed structurally unsafe by a surveyors report. The United Reformed Church hall, also in the town centre, is a Grade II* building built in 1777. The other Grade II* churches are: St. Peter's Parish Church in Parkstone which was first built in 1833 and replaced in 1876; St Dunstan of Canterbury Orthodox Church , also in Parkstone, an Antiochian Orthodox church, formerly
7052-474: Was given the right to appoint its own sheriff , making it a county corporate , independent from the jurisdiction of the Sheriff of Dorset . In 1836, Poole was reformed to become a municipal borough . As part of that reform, the borough boundaries were enlarged to take in Hamworthy , Longfleet and Parkstone . When elected county councils were established in 1889, despite being a county corporate, Poole
7138-616: Was included in the Kingdom of Wessex . The settlement was used as a base for fishing and the harbour a place for ships to anchor on their way to the River Frome and the important Anglo-Saxon town of Wareham . Poole experienced two large-scale Viking invasions during this era: in 876, Guthrum sailed his fleet through the harbour to attack Wareham, and in 1015, Canute began his conquest of England in Poole Harbour, using it as
7224-446: Was not considered large enough for the borough council to take on county council functions. It was therefore included in the administrative county of Dorset under the new Dorset County Council . The borough boundaries were enlarged in 1905 to take in Branksome , and again in 1931 to absorb Canford Magna. In 1932 the borough council built itself Poole Civic Centre on Parkstone Road to serve as its headquarters. The borough of Poole
7310-416: Was previously part of the "Unity Alliance" administration on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council from 2019 until a vote of no confidence in 2020, after which the party has been in opposition. It was founded in 2010 by Mark Howell, and has contested three local elections, as well as the Poole constituency in the 2015 UK general election . Mark Howell, the party leader, was the first elected member of
7396-502: Was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan district in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 . The district kept the same boundaries and its borough status , but there were some changes to the council's responsibilities. In 1997, Poole Borough Council became a unitary authority, taking over the provision of county council functions from Dorset County Council. The borough of Poole was abolished in 2019, merging with
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