- Branksome Park
Branksome Park is a suburb of
Poole inDorset , which adjoinsBranksome, Dorset . The area covers approximately convert|360|acre|km2, mostly occupied by housing, and includesBranksome Chine which leads to the award-winning blue-flagged beaches of Poole.Description
Branksome Park is one of
Poole 's most affluent areas alongsideSandbanks ,Canford Cliffs ,Evening Hill , Lilliput, andSalterns Marina . It is on the border of Poole, withBournemouth being on the other side of The Avenue. It is less than two miles (3 km) from the shopping areas of Westbourne and The Square in the centre ofBournemouth .House prices vary widely in the area; there are small 1960s flats costing just under £200,000 and mansions costing well over £3 million. A new mansion called Sleon House, with convert|12000|sqft|m2 of living accommodation, was recently built with a price tag of £5,250,000. The area is a contrast to neighbouring
Sandbanks , whilst although being affluent, the community is not focused towards development based around the beach; there are very few properties directly on the waterfront. Instead most of the residential zone of Branksome park is inland.Demographically a large percentage of the elderly people live in the area (
Poole Town andParkstone also have a high percentage). The population of elderly people (mainly over 85) in the area is expected to rise even more by 2025.Local facilities include a sports area with tennis courts and a bowling green. Branksome park also has a small public library and is home to the All Saints Church constructed in 1877, and a school for disabled children which is located on the outskirts of the area.
Recent development
Branksome Park has seen much residential development in recent years. However, the styles of new buildings remain much less controversial than other places such as
Sandbanks . However, the architect Eddie Mitchell (owner of [http://www.sevendevs.com Seven Developments] ), received planning permission and has recently finished construction of a controversial building development known as the 'Thunderbird' which is a convert|6000|sqft|m2|sing=on residential development. The building has also received many awards, making it one of the best-known residential buildings of Dorset. Because the style and architecture of existing housing stock is much older, new plans for developments must fit in with existing properties and styles. According to the rules on development in Branksome Park, one can only build more than one property on a plot that is 3/4 of an acre or larger. In 2006, two large Victorian houses were demolished to make way for a controversial new housing development with 20 three storey homes.Mobile phone mast development
On
10 June 2005 , the UK mobile phone company Orange asked Poole council for permission to place a mobile phone mast in the junction of Western Avenue and Bury Road. Five days later,Vodafone applied to place additional masts in Branksome Park (by Cerne Abbas),Canford Cliffs , Lower Parkstone and Lilliput.Vodafone asked if they could install two 20 metre high phone masts. However the idea of having one by Cerne Abbas was withdrawn, and the remaining masts in the area were rejected, after public opposition to the scheme intensified.Famous residents
A noted resident of Branksome Park was
Wilfred Rhodes , who died there. Queen Elizabeth I had a house in Branksome Park called Cerne Abbas (named after the historic village inDorset ), which was later turned into a retirement home for war veterans. This building has now been demolished. Other people who have resided in Branksome Park includeBob Monkhouse ,Max Bygraves ,J. R. R. Tolkien ,Mantovani ,Tony Blackburn and Tom Jones.External links
* [http://www.branksomepark.com Branksome Park website] .
* [http://www.sevendevs.com Seven Developments] .
* [http://www.thedorsetpage.com/locations/Place/B280.htm Branksome Park in the dorset page] .
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/F1643989?thread=2700199 Victory over the mobile phone masts- BBC news] .
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