Government funding for a world-class Environmental Innovation Hub along Dorset’s coast has been approved.
The Hub has been funded £2.4 million from the government’s Coastal Community Fund to get set up raise awareness of environmental issues.
The plan is to partly build it from ‘ocean- harvested’ plastics and will be at Durley Chine, Bournemouth.
There will also be several interactive points along a 10 mile stretch of the coastline.
The Hub will feature interactive and engaging displays about the environment.
Councillor Lewis Allison is the Portfolio Holder for Tourism.
He said: “We are delighted that the Environmental Hub has been awarded funding.
“The Hub is a chance for us to develop an imaginative experience for visitors which will highlight the fragility of our natural environment.”
Some features included in the Hub will be a lifeguard control point, a catering kiosk and a waste transfer facility.
Visitor waste is currently a big problem for coastal resorts.
Over 1,300 tonnes of waste are removed from Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.
The Hub hopes to encourage change and aims to make visitors more aware about recycling and plastic use.
Councillor Lewis Allison added: “Following the councils’ declaration of a climate emergency this project will be a key milestone in helping us to achieve our target of carbon neutrality by 2030 and will help to instil our collective responsibility to protect our treasured coastline.”
The area gets over 7 million annual visitors and the Hub would reach out to visitors to explore and understand the environmental impact of waste on our coastlines.
It is also estimated that these coastal projects would create 120 new jobs.
Also, it would increase the number of visitors and spend to the area.