Top Gear or bottom gear!

I am well aware of the demographics of the Ancient Borough of Christchurch and the fantastic attractions it has for people who reach retirement age. I also appreciate just how this must appear to those outside of our community that base their assessment on available statistics and conclude and promulgate that Christchurch is indeed 'God's waiting room'. The point is that it just does not feel like that when you have the privilege of living within its boundaries and we have to take into account that as a tourist destination this Borough attracts over £100 million of revenue per anum from discerning and regular visitors. Our coastal and environmental attractions are there for all to experience. More so the gross domestic product in financial terms of the Borough is in excess of £800 million and growing. Expansion at the airport business park means that whilst we have to be aware of the aging population we do have to build in to our plans where our talented youngsters are going live and indeed give credit to our brilliant schools and all the new businesses that have chosen Christchurch as their base of operation. If 70 is the new 30, and it certainly feels like that to me, I can't think of a better place to enjoy and contribute to than Christchurch. This morning I took my usual walk down to the Avon Cafe and saw families walking together in the brisk wind against the wonderful coastline backdrop and thought how lucky I am to be able to be in this town. What I did not get was a perception of a decrepit and moribund area as portrayed by the recent television program. I do understand and appreciate the sort of petrol head humour which is the basis of the program but against that also understand its worldwide circulation and certainly there will be viewers who know nothing about Christchurch who will form an opinion from the patronising and highly suspect portrayal of our town. Yesterday an elderly lady and big contributor to community issues in Christchurch thanked me for making a stand against that portrayal and subsequently more residents have commented to me that I have every right as Leader of CBC to make my point against those whether media based or not, who seem to get a buzz from dishing Christchurch. This is a great place to live work and visit, it has a great and engaged community and for me if God wanted to choose a place where time was pleasant then he could not better Christchurch. And finally, our high quality local newspaper headlined that I had requested a drive on the program in a reasonably priced car, not true, manipulated for some sort of effect and indicates a gross misconception of the root issue that wherever whenever I will stand up for what I believe that this town, this community is just a fantastic place to live and should be treated with far more respect than portrayed on this television program..