8:10am Monday 15th March 2010
By Stephen Bailey
BOURNEMOUTH council said it has no information to release over the six-month assessment of whether the Boscombe surf reef is working.
Officers were recently given a verbal briefing from Plymouth University experts on how the £3 million reef was performing but declined to speak about the results.
The Daily Echo requested the information under the Freedom of Information Act but was told: “The council has not yet received an interim report or nor does it have the presentation given by Plymouth University.
“Relevant information will be made public as part of the cabinet agenda for the meeting to be held on 28th April.”
The council said it will instead discuss the report’s findings with representatives of three surfing groups then speak to reef contractor ASR.
It is compiling a report into the reef to be finished in around six months’ time, which will include studies of the reef’s effects on coastal erosion and sea life.
Mark Smith, head of tourism, defended the council’s position at March’s meeting of the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade.
He said: “When we have got the information, it can be put out sensibly.
“It wouldn’t be right or sensible to give one of the sources a public airing before then.”
Mike Stebbings, from Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association (BAHA), said the information vacuum had “slightly backfired” and allowed the reef’s opponents to criticise.
Cllr Ron Whittaker, who has demanded the report’s findings be released, replied: “We have got a situation where we have to respond to enquiries made by our electors.
“Don’t treat councillors like two year old children.”
Cllr Whittaker, who had threatened to call a special meeting of the whole council in a bid to get information, has been told a briefing will be held for councillors on April 21, prior to a cabinet meeting on April 28. He said the situation was “far from perfect” but would enable a full discussion before the issue went to cabinet.
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