Over 1,400 answer Bournemouth spending cuts survey

More than 1,400 people have answered a survey on which of Bournemouth's public services should be saved from cuts.

The four-week consultation asked people the importance of 25 services, including street lighting and gritting.

The Conservative-controlled authority said it could be "influenced" about what services should be protected over the next three years.

Leader of the borough council, councillor Peter Charon, said he was pleased with the response.

In February, the council agreed savings of £8m for 2010-11 and a further £8m for 2011-12.

"We have already had to deal with around £2.5m of cuts, announced earlier this summer, from our grants to specific services in 2010-11," a council spokesperson said.

"Despite being in a strong position already, it is vital that the council prepares for the possibility of even greater government cuts that may be announced soon, but could affect our services and budgets for many years to come."

Mr Charon added: "We will now be examining the results very closely in order to understand which services local people value the most so that we can do all we can to protect them."