NEW questions have arisen over the future of Boscombe Surf Reef after a sub-contractor won a £7,286 county court judgement against a branch of ASR, the company which built it.

Ram Plant made the claim for an unpaid invoice from 2009 and judgement was passed at Northampton County Court on November 3 this year.

The company was supplying equipment and work on the reef during its original construction.

It secured the county court judgement (CCJ), which includes interest, court fees and solicitors’ costs, after ASR Ltd (UK) did not reply to the claim form.

New Zealand-based ASR is supposed to return next year to continue remedial works on the reef because it is not hitting the agreed performance targets.

The firm is supposed to get £75,000, the final part of the £3.2 million allocated to the project.

Cllr Anne Rey, leader of the independent group on Bournemouth council, said: “It’s a very worrying situation. ASR haven’t really been accountable to us.”

Cllr Ben Grower, a long time reef opponent, said: “These sort of things don’t surprise me anymore. It’s just another sorry part of the story.”

The Echo emailed questions about the CCJ twice to ASR staff, including its technical director and spokesman, but did not receive a reply over eight days.

Council leader Cllr Peter Charon said he was not aware of the CCJ but would look into the matter.

Tony Williams, executive director for environment and economic services said: “This is a matter for both parties concerned to resolve.”

Ram Plant went into liquidation in the spring of 2011 with debts of £189,000.

The CCJ was sought on its behalf by solicitors Wilkin Chapman of Grimsby.

The law firm said it could not comment because of client confidentiality.

ASR’s managing director Nick Behunin said in October: “We have always said the reef is an important project and one in which we have taken great measures to support the community.”