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Surf reef delay could mean the end for traders (From Thisisdorset)
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Surf reef delay could mean the end for traders
7:00am Friday 14th November 2008
Hoteliers and traders in Boscombe, buoyed up by the prospect of Europe’s first artificial surf reef on their doorstep, could be forced out of business by the time the £2.68 million project is completed.
That’s the warning from Steve Kent, chairman of Boscombe Traders’ Association, after the council announced that work on the scheme has been halted until April and will not be finished until next September.
Mr Kent said: “Everyone believed the council when they said the reef would be completed by this autumn. They spent thousands of pounds on leaflets and PR spin saying it would be finished by October. Then we were told it wouldn’t happen until the New Year.
“Now the date has been put back until next autumn. For the third successive year the seafront will look like a building site and businesses counting on the reef have been left high and dry.
“Hoteliers banking on extra customers also feel let down because those people will now go elsewhere for their summer holidays.
“A surfing competition has been arranged for later this month but there won’t be any reef so hopefully we will have enough wind to enable it to be staged.”
He added: “This latest delay could be the death knell for some businesses. It’s very bad news for Boscombe, just as work is about to start on the ice rink in Boscombe precinct.”
Yesterday the Daily Echo revealed how the council had confirmed that work on the reef had been stopped “as the shorter days and winter weather do not permit long enough working sessions for safe and effective construction on this major underwater project.”
The council’s service director for leisure Roger Brown said there had not been “any specific marketing campaigns to encourage surfing breaks to Bournemouth from October 2008”.
He stressed that the entire regeneration scheme, including the reef, was not being funded by local taxpayers but by “capital receipts related to the site”.
Mr Brown added: “Local companies are among those who have submitted tenders to invest heavily in the new leisure facilities.
“A greatly enhanced Boscombe seafront will be open for business next summer. The surfing competition, always intended to take place at Boscombe Pier, is going ahead as planned.”
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Your Say YourDorset
enid, Bournemouth says...
9:13am Fri 14 Nov 08
Does Mr Kent really think the surfers would have gone ice skating?
Why not market Boscombe for what it is - Bournemouth's little sister, still with a fabulous beach (just avoid the relatively small area where work is being done)and the same lovely countryside within easy reach.
Shame about the undesirables in the high street, etc. but that's another story!
BIGTONE, POOLE says...
10:15am Fri 14 Nov 08
Well I afraid you are in the wrong business if you are relying on a surf reef to survive.
Peggy Babcock, Poole says...
10:56am Fri 14 Nov 08
BourneRed, Bournemouth says...
10:59am Fri 14 Nov 08
Peggy Babcock wrote:Sarcasm not your strong point then?
Well, I hope you die an early death then.
ned flanders, Parkstone Village says...
11:36am Fri 14 Nov 08
BourneRed wrote:No, he really means it!
Peggy Babcock wrote: Well, I hope you die an early death then.Sarcasm not your strong point then?
ned flanders, Parkstone Village says...
11:36am Fri 14 Nov 08
MoordownMarc wrote:Jealous per chance???
Look, what is all the fuss about so Boscombe closes down. If I fail, I get rewarded, if I cause the closure of private sector businesses, I get promoted. I have a permanent job (it will cost you thousands to see me off) you mugs pay for - and of course I look foward to retiring on a gold-plated pension you also pay for. I don't care because I don't have too. Yours unaccountably Bournemouth Council Town Hall Worker.
EdBmth, Bournemouth says...
11:38am Fri 14 Nov 08
"The extra money also guarantees the reef's completion this year and has paid for a performance-related clause that will ensure the council is compensated if the reef does not work."
So now that the reef has not been completed will anyone now tell us how much less the reef will now be costing.
Emulated, Bournemouth says...
11:51am Fri 14 Nov 08
ned flanders wrote:Ha ha.....you will get some figure from the council but you will have to apply under the Freedom of Information Act to get an honest answer.
MoordownMarc wrote: Look, what is all the fuss about so Boscombe closes down. If I fail, I get rewarded, if I cause the closure of private sector businesses, I get promoted. I have a permanent job (it will cost you thousands to see me off) you mugs pay for - and of course I look foward to retiring on a gold-plated pension you also pay for. I don't care because I don't have too. Yours unaccountably Bournemouth Council Town Hall Worker.Jealous per chance???
Emulated, Bournemouth says...
11:54am Fri 14 Nov 08
Cazzam, Bournemouth says...
11:58am Fri 14 Nov 08
Bob49, Bournemouth says...
12:12pm Fri 14 Nov 08
Another scam to get their greedy hands on land.
Any idea why the Winter Gardens were comcously ran down. Why so many 'regenerations' claim to be providing so many benefits yet fail to deliver.
The benefits never were meant to be - just a simple means to justify handing over the land.
I leave it to your imagination to work out who all the real beneficiaries are - and your imagination to conjure up images of multi-numbered restaurants, ice rinks and surf reefs. Because, other than artists mock ups, that's as far as any of these absurd distractions will ever go.
John T, Poole says...
12:44pm Fri 14 Nov 08
I am sure with the assistance of Bournemouth Councillors and local MP, Tobias Ellwood, you will have plenty of wind!
Mediclogan5, Bournemouth says...
3:15pm Fri 14 Nov 08
Now can the council tell us what plans they have if and when this venture fails, after all it is not a dead certainty of success...just like the IMAX, and just what is happening with that?
djd, bournemouth says...
3:33pm Fri 14 Nov 08
Building could go on for years and provided the reef works the company will get its performance bonus. Makes you wonder just who are the mugs !!!
omegaman, bournemouth says...
4:47pm Fri 14 Nov 08
rook, wimborne says...
5:04pm Fri 14 Nov 08
I'm not one myself, but from what I have seen, they are not the type to spend big money on business in Boscombe (no comments on what the big businesses in Boscombe are, please). They will be in the water as long as there is a chance of just one more good wave, not spending large amounts of money in shops.
Also, from the plans I have seen, the reef will not accomodate that many surfers. I'm sure initially it will be quite popular, but surfers who find it too busy will go elsewhere such as Kimmeridge or Cornwall, and it will find its level. As others have said, expecting this to save Boscombe is badly-considered at best.
I hope it is a success and lots of people enjoy it, but I suspect it won't make any major difference to the town.
pachyderm, says...
8:18pm Fri 14 Nov 08
We drove along the sand-dune (the prom) as far as possible (Bournemouth Pier) and enjoyed watching 20+ "surfers" stood under the pier.
The only character enjoying the afternoon seemed to be a golden retriever !
We brought sandwiches, guess the surfers didn't spend much in town, so I just question the expenditure...beats a pension investment???
beachhut, Southbourne says...
10:04am Sat 15 Nov 08
This company has never built one of these so why did they not find out more about our conditions. Did our councillors not indicate the local sea conditions in there fact finding tour of the southern oceans at tax payers expense?. We have a wealth of commercial divers who work all year round in UK waters so why not get the so called brains back and get some hardened UK divers to complete the underwater work for the southern softies. Archlights and winter weight wetsuits for 5 hours days will have it back on schedule. We do seem to have a very weak local management control that just accepts what they are told, just get it done, for sure it was oil down there you can bet they would be working 24/7. We are a soft touch and thats whey we are here and they are in India doing a Calcutta Surf Reef no doubt. How come these people came here without work visas, and had to flown to Iceland ( individually ) to obtain the correct paperwork. You would have thought our tourism office would have known what work permits were required, another council failing.
time nor Tide, bournemouth says...
10:19am Mon 17 Nov 08
this is getting screwier all the time!
i thought one of the many of the "passing parade" of ASR's "identities" said that there pump systems could handle a section in a hour or something.
Our divers that work in the north sea just wouldnt work for the job?
Beachut has got it sooo right.
donedivin, Broadstone says...
11:23pm Mon 12 Jan 09
All thes guys many of whom I know personally are self employed.
There are many of the divers that work in the North Sea live in and around Poole and Bournemouth. Within five miles of myself I know of 1 x Hyperbaric welder, 1 x Life Support Supervisor, 2 x Dive Supervisors 1 x Dive superintendent and numerous divers that are all from the 'North Sea'. Most of whom have less work during the winter months and have historically worked for the Local diving companies such as Quest, Commercial and Specialist, APEX, and the old Dean and Dyball.
The individual that has set up the Association of Diving Contractors is local and ex military and commercial diver, before moving into Project Management and Consultancy.
Do not be fooled the local individuals and the companies attempting to make a living from this industry have been sold down the street well and truly by the local councils Engineering and Contracts depts.
Accountability 'whats that' something that seems to cease to exist as soon as you can get your feet under the table and cosy in job for life situation.
Its also worth pointing out that ASR had the geo-textile bags manufactured in Oz, there are companies that provide the same service in the UK. The specialist sand pumps were shipped in from Oz when they are available in the UK, and the Dutch just a short hop across the channel are the worlds finest when it comes to dredging and reclamation.
The list of questions that need to be answered just goes on and on.
I have emails back from the council project manager that I am quite happy to publish if needs be to show the embarrasing lack of commercial, cost contol and general Project Management given to this fiasco.
Your sayYour Dorset
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Grumpy Griff, Christchurch says...
8:44am Fri 14 Nov 08
You were actually thinking it would be completed on time were you....!!