A NEW CCTV camera is planned for a busy part of the Townsend Estate offering more protection for residents and visitors.

The camera will be positioned at the junction of Throop Road and Jewell Road and will be monitored from the Castlepoint security control room.

The Castlepoint shopping park has also pledged to help by offering financial support for two police community officers to work from the centre.

The plans follow a series of initiatives and additions aimed at making the estate a safer place.

In July, Dorset Police introduced mountain bike patrols, which have been successfully used on the estate, allowing community beat officers to carry out high-visibility patrols.

Over the last couple of months Royal Mail has resumed collections on the estate and a brand new youth centre was opened providing activities for young people during the evenings, weekends and school holidays.

And today marks the return of the number 35 Yellow Bus service, which was suspended in October last year following a spate of violent incidents.

The estate has also been chosen for two government initiatives.

The Home Office's Community Cohesion initiative aims to revitalise the area and the estate has also been chosen as a policing priority area, which will provide the police with a dedicated project manager to focus police resources.

Superintendent Nick Hazelton, operations manager for Bournemouth, said: "We will not tolerate the minority who have caused problems on the estate and we are determined to make the area a safe and happy place for all the other residents who have been affected by these yobs in recent years."

Councillor Angela Manton of the Strouden Park ward welcomed the return of the bus service. She said: "I am delighted to see the return of the Yellow Bus service and the progress of other projects that have been achieved through good partnership between the police, council and the community."

First published: Sept 6