BOURNEMOUTH could be in line for a second surf reef if the one currently being constructed at Boscombe proves a success.

A new reef could be installed at Southbourne, primarily to help protect the beach from erosion.

But it would also enhance the waves, transforming Bournemouth’s coastline into a true surfers’ paradise.

Roger Brown, the council’s head of leisure services, announced the plans in a BBC Radio Four programme about the Boscombe regeneration project.

Talking about the benefits of the Boscombe reef, he said: “We’re pretty confident it will work for coastal erosion as well. If it does we may be able to provide another reef at Southbourne.

“If it proves itself, you may well see reefs built not just for surfing amenity use but for coastal protection as well.”

The Boscombe reef was scheduled for completion by the end of this month, although poor weather delayed the deployment of the second section of the reef.

The reef debate has largely focused on the economic and leisure benefits of the surf reef rather than its coastal protection benefits.

But, early on in the process, it was suggested that the reef would offer better protection than groynes, as it would reduce the waves’ erosive power before they reach the beach.

The reef’s designer Professor Kerry Black also suggested building a reef at the eastern end of Southbourne, offshore of groyne number 4, in his initial report to the council.

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He said a single-sided reef would provide coastal protection at a similar capital cost to groynes and funding could be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the lottery sports fund.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Roger West said he fully endorsed the idea of using reefs to protect the coast.

“I am pleased that senior officers in Bournemouth leisure are saying that we should consider reefs as a form of beach protection for Southbourne,” he said.

“This has always been the most natural place to use this method of defence as there is in effect, a natural feature already there which does create interesting surfing conditons. Of course I support the idea of a wide open safe beach that gently slopes down to the sea. This, I am persuaded, would be the result if reefs were constructed along most of Poole Bay.”