What's the big secret with Boscombe’s surf reef report? (From Bournemouth Echo)
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What's the big secret with Boscombe’s surf reef report?
8:30am Friday 5th March 2010 in
A WAVE of protest is forming after Bournemouth council refused to reveal expert opinion on whether Boscombe’s £3 million surf reef is working properly.
Council officers received a private briefing this week from Plymouth University, which has been compiling an interim report on the reef’s performance.
But surfers and opposition councillors are furious that the contents of that meeting are not to be made public yet. The council says it doesn’t want to release the information “out of context”.
Opening day of surf reef
The reef, launched last year, has been dogged by claims that it is not creating the waves it was supposed to.
Cllr Claire Smith, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat opposition, said: “We are certainly not being told what’s going on and it might be a case of us as councillors having to put in a Freedom of Information request. It just beggars belief.”
She feared the interim report from the experts had not been encouraging.
“If it was good, they would have let you know,” she said.
The Echo has made a request under the Freedom of Information Act requiring the council to release written records of the briefing or give a lawful reason for refusal.
A statement from Roger Brown, the council’s service director for leisure, said this week’s briefing had been a verbal one and “a work in progress”.
“To take Plymouth University’s interim information in isolation would undermine the commitment we have given to the surfing community to listen to their views, which we are still gathering,” the statement said.
“It would also mean taking information out of context of the other monitoring that is ongoing by both Southampton and Bournemouth universities, of the coastal protection and marine biodiversity respectively.
“The studies are part of a year-long programme of monitoring and evaluation not just of the reef, but of the entire seafront regeneration scheme.”
It said Plymouth’s “initial data” would be considered alongside feedback from surfers. “A complete picture will be in place later in the year, when conclusions as to the extent of the reef’s success can be made and shared.
“It is therefore wholly inaccurate to state that the council does not intend to publish details before the full picture can be given.”
Danny Chilcott, a keen surfer and proprietor of Ocean Breeze B&B in Boscombe, said the reef could be fixed by a few “tweaks” but it should be done soon. “If you speak to any of the local surfers down here, we’ve all been out and tried it and we don’t use it. We go back to the beach,” he said.
“You don’t need science and you don’t need reports to know that.”
Cllr Basil Ratcliffe, an engineer and senior Conservative councillor, said: “About a month ago I asked the Town Hall for figures on how many surfers had been using the reef during the peak season and was told about two or three a day. That makes a mockery of the whole thing.”
Comments(43)
jobsworthwatch
says...
8:40am Fri 5 Mar 10
crispy_pants
says...
8:42am Fri 5 Mar 10
Hickery
says...
8:43am Fri 5 Mar 10
PTBarnum
says...
8:48am Fri 5 Mar 10
jobsworthwatch
says...
8:52am Fri 5 Mar 10
Hickery wrote:If you do the sums and you intend to recoup the investment over 5 years, 3 surfers a day would have to pay £550/day each for the privilege!
If I was one of those surfers using the reef, I'd feel very priviledged to have that amount of money spent just on ME! Average the amount spent across the total number who've used it so far and it's tens of thousands of pounds each.
Bormuf Boy
says...
8:59am Fri 5 Mar 10
fedupwithjobsworths
says...
9:28am Fri 5 Mar 10
Mickeypat
says...
9:36am Fri 5 Mar 10
Glashen
says...
9:42am Fri 5 Mar 10
.
Clearly the report is bad news, possibly the retention money can be used to make the reef perform correctly possibly not, without the report we have no idea. The original project was innovative and the courage the council showed in pursuing it can be applauded but now they must come clean and admit if the project can be saved or not.
Skono
says...
10:06am Fri 5 Mar 10
IN A SHOUTING VOICE.
1) ROGER BROWN IN FRONT OF A BBC, SKY or ITV CAMERA TOMORROW AT THE PIER AND LET'S HAVE HIM LIE AGAIN TO THE PUBLIC THEN SO WE CAN HAVE HIM SACKED FOR HIS CONSTANT FIBBING. THIS MAN IS A LIAR AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
2) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST TO THE COUNCIL FROM THE ECHO MUST BE MADE PUBLIC
3) THE HIGHEST WAVE DATA PERIOD HAS GONE BY DURING THE WINTER SO NO FURTHER DATA WILL BE HELPFUL
4) THE REEF IS NOW DANGEROUS AND WILL KILL SOMEONE SOON
5) ASR HAVE AN UNFINISHED REEF IN SOUTH TARANAKI (OPUNAKE)NZ WITH 100% IDENTICAL ISSUES please see this link http://robnixon.blog
spot.com/2010/02/opu
nake-artificial-surf
-reef-hits.html
6) STATING THE REEF IS WORKING BECAUSE IT HAS INCREASED TOURISM IS AN INSULT TO EVERY RESIDENT OF BOURNEMOUTH £3,667,555 IS OUR MONEY
7) A 'TWEAK' IS JUST LAUGHABLE. DAVE WEIGHT LOST ALL CREDIBILITY WHEN HE USED THE RIDICULOUS WORD
8) THE PEOPLE TO INVESTIGATE THE COUNCILS ACTIONS AND EXPENSES TRIPS TO NZ TO BE TOLD IT WONT WORK NEED TO BE MADE TO THE AUDIT COMMISSION ON 0117 975 3131...THESE GUYS ARE LIKE THE INTERNAL FEDS FOR THE COUNCILS
That number to complain to again is 0117 975 3131
Or call BBC South Today on 02380 226201 and ask for Sally Taylor or Briony and they will come back and pull the council liars apart again.
In less than 2 weeks there is a major surf contest planned for the reef which will see Bournemouth as a surfing venue laughed off the national and international surfing calender.
It is high time this pack of lies was brought to a full stop and those at the council who are responsible MUST be sacked.
HOW ABOUT VOTING WITH YOUR FEET? SATURDAY AT 12.00HRS.....EVERYON
E TO THE PIER WITH THE TV CAMERAS????
Finally the reef is starting to become a joke on the surfing circuit as this clip passes around the internet..sound familiar to Bournemouth Council Idiots?
http://www.facebook.
com/l/dfb2f;www.yout
ube.com/watch?v=AEZj
zsnPhnw&feature=rela
ted"
Gastines
says...
10:26am Fri 5 Mar 10
PTBarnum
says...
10:53am Fri 5 Mar 10
Mickeypat
says...
11:02am Fri 5 Mar 10
Bob49
says...
11:33am Fri 5 Mar 10
And children therein lies the problem. Even a blindingly obvious failure still has it's backers. So could you tell us all how much was spent on the pier ? Tell us what happened to the quality shops and cafe that was supposed to be part of this ludicrous 'regeneration' ? Tell us why the bustop is in the wrong place ? Why the surf pods have not sold ?
It was a scam from the beginning. That the reef won't work, the facilities promised have not been built and the surf pods have not sold is not a deviation... an oversight maybe, but the inevitable consequence of allowing these rogues to help themselves to our land.
That the area has been landscaped and tidying up is not part of some nonsensical' regeneration' but to ensure the surroundings of this exclusive development are pleasing to the eye ie better sales.
If you seriously think was has been done to the pier area was worth the £11m plus spent, then I fear than the next council 'money making scheme' will go the same way.
So I challenge you, as a defender of this farce to point where this supposed regeneration has spread to any other parts of Boscombe, to itemise the 55 extra jobs created as was claimed in Oct 2009 or the £41.m boost to the local economy.
If you are so pleased with it then you, and the rest of the sycophants, can stump up my share of the extra council tax that this scam is going to cost this town. The surf pods have not sold and are not likely to sell either - for the reasons above. There is nothing there. They were going to generate nearly £3m in income. Where is the money coming from to make up that shortfall. ?
Mothballs
says...
11:33am Fri 5 Mar 10
Fightingback
says...
11:43am Fri 5 Mar 10
For a public servant to keep secrets from the public is wholly unacceptable.
This is not Stalinist Russia.
Gordon Cann
says...
12:01pm Fri 5 Mar 10
We have potholes in this area getting wider by the day. but no money to repair them but just wait until all people over the age of 18 have a vote and we put an end to this nonsenscal state of affairs !
bobenford
says...
12:29pm Fri 5 Mar 10
I do understand that they cant have it to dangerous with waves, to protect small childrena t the beach. Sadly it is completely inaffective. An eyesore at low tide and redundant at high tide. Like others, I see, whenever I go to the beach, surfurs not touching the reef wave and surfing everywhere but.
The created wave is no different in size to others along the beach.
Biggest waste of money for biggest blunder. The council are impetuous.
Wander up the hill to Boscombe and see the poverty. Terrible shamefully poor housing. No comunity. Yet money is invested for visitors to enjoy. The plinth artwork at the pier are an eyesore costing £60,000.
Regeneration starts with the people of the town who need it most.
It makes my skin crawl, at the lack of interest in the townsfolk and their obvious needs.
We could also be shot of the Masonic pinnacles from the cresent. I dont want to live in a town overshadowed and marked as Masonic territory. Why should we have these things inflicted on us.
Get real. Meet the needs of the people, not your own ridiculous ideas!
bobenford
says...
12:35pm Fri 5 Mar 10
The obvious result of fail will come to soon ans everyone enthusiastically rallies round their personal succes, through their envolvement. Leave it for a while , until interest dies down, then noone will care. Like the IMAX. Just left with the eyrsore.
enotsnihple
says...
1:16pm Fri 5 Mar 10
LuckyStar
says...
1:23pm Fri 5 Mar 10
>
I predict that this is exactly the same reason that these sad excuse for councillors originally decided to throw millions of public money at this 'radical' surf reef concept after falling for the sales spin of ASR.
>
Now - due to the fact that they have publicly associated themselves with the success of the reef and 'regeneration' - you can be sure that they will NEVER admit liability or change their stance on the issue - irrespective of the conflicting information that will inevitably surface in due course.
>
Well it seems that their wish will be granted - although unfortunately for them they'll be remembered for the complete and utter mess of the situation that they have created.
>
Days to the local elections - t-minus...
lovetheuk
says...
1:54pm Fri 5 Mar 10
Fightingback
says...
2:02pm Fri 5 Mar 10
Yes there is - get rid of the council employees so they wont be duped again and waste millions more of our money!
dorsetspeed
says...
2:06pm Fri 5 Mar 10
http://www.facebook.
com/group.php?v=wall
&ref=search&gid=3248
07227155
Bob49
says...
2:18pm Fri 5 Mar 10
The reef has not failed in the sense it was the perfect cover story to make money for a priviliged few by flogging of OUR land and building flats for weekenders. They woulld not have been able to make off with that land had their not been some believable cover story. Regenrate Boscombe by building some luxury flats ! ! !
Some people have made, and will make, some serious money out of Moneycombe Chine yet the only bleats seem to be about something that never was going to work, and has now finally been proven not to work
As said before the only gripes seem to be about how dirty were the mugger's fingernails.
We have been had and will continue to do so until we see the greater picture.
Something that cannot be seen from the clifftop anymore. There is the real scandal.
enotsnihple
says...
2:34pm Fri 5 Mar 10
gudmenrmist
says...
2:39pm Fri 5 Mar 10
So come on ECHO serve the people who support you and get some answers.
SonofKinson
says...
3:22pm Fri 5 Mar 10
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Robert Brown needs to pack his bags and move off, although I thought he was, or has. Of course the Surf Reef is not the only project **** up he has been in charge of is it.
contric
says...
3:35pm Fri 5 Mar 10
Xchurch-man
says...
4:10pm Fri 5 Mar 10
My tongue in cheek comments about masons have been removed from this page.
Funny that?
Xchurch-man
says...
4:13pm Fri 5 Mar 10
The echo keeps starting new pages on the same story, most annoying
Bob49
says...
5:39pm Fri 5 Mar 10
enotsnihple wrote:As opposed to your good self who has so little concern about this matter that you haven't even bothered to read this rhread ......... over even troubled yourself to reply either'
You're going to put yourself in an early grave worrying about things that are way beyond your control. If you are that bothered about it, become a member of the council. You may even find yourself being tempted by tose ficticious brown envelopes.
Assuming any of us were to become a councillor how could we be tempted by something (brown envelopes) that you state don't exist ?
Are you a councillor by any chance - you don't sound too bright.
Trifecta
says...
5:53pm Fri 5 Mar 10
BIGTONE
says...
6:10pm Fri 5 Mar 10
Skono
says...
7:00pm Fri 5 Mar 10
This meeting is for people who know what they are talking about, so if you are willing to come along then please do.
We think it is high time that we asked the council for a formal disciplinary to be brought against Roger Brown and all those involved.
See you there, but please, again, unless you are an experienced surfer/windsurfer/ki
tesurfer/SUPer, or have a genuine valid point, then this meeting is not for you.
This meeting is to build a solid case against ASR and the council to pull apart any of their future lies or idiotic excuses.
Finally, please if you have 'funny or witty' comments to add, all you do is make yourself look childish and people simply laugh AT you, not with you, so please, politely, leave your comments somewhere else. Thanks
Cheers
time nor Tide
says...
9:13pm Fri 5 Mar 10
.
In NZ their record speaks for itself as does their dealings with a surf pool in Florida. The Wavebox in NZ is also claimed as one of their sucess's in marketing a concept. Alas their concept has been discarded in favour of another but thats another story.
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Seekin death of a surfpark also reveals some dissapointed people in their wavepool results.
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There is also a full history of 6 reports done by the CEO of Surfrider foundation on ASR's (artificial surfing reefs) under the banner of oceans waves and beaches .
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Bob49 is extremely astute in his observations and as always look for the money trail. I believe he is correct when he says that the reef was a "cover " for what really went on. The surfing public has a right to be disgusted to be used that way for such heinous ends.
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For any sportspeople to be used as instruments like this is reprehensible -especially when the promise was erroneous and falacious and all the warning signs were there. No wait ... there was no track record of sucess only one of failure so the promise acceptance was flawed from the start.
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Marketing jetboat rides, waterskiing, sailing and all the other suitable summer water sports may have been more appropriate and rewarding in a suitable and sustainable way?
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At best ASR's full size are proving to be large lab rats let alone a certain promise. How entire communities get hooked into such expensive experiments eludes me? But Bob49 has a handle on that - developers, coastal land and money? Easy to spot?
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I suspect that council will wait to release for the surfing carnival participants, to give their verdict on the reef. As that is as an expert opinion as anyone can get.
Others it seems are also seeking the "full inside track" on ASR and its dealings including action against its directors past and present. Some form of international cooperation and information sharing may be helpfull in this case?
booger
says...
9:27pm Fri 5 Mar 10
contric wrote:Brothers. Strange, being as the council's employment rules state that senior managers are not allowed to recruit relatives or close family. Trust me, Mr Brown will go, take the blame for the reef, albeit with a very nice golden handshake and full pension. Unlike lots of leisure front line staff like gardeners who are looking at redundancy.
head of leisure roger brown head man littledown peter brown are they in any way related
Trifecta
says...
9:54pm Fri 5 Mar 10
Bob49
says...
10:50pm Fri 5 Mar 10
Janet Chilcott, who opened a hotel with her husband in hope that the surf reef would bring in a lot business to the area, .........."We belong to an alliance of sixteen hotels and not one of them has received a surf reef related booking"
"surfers are not using the reef and local businesses that believed it would bring in large numbers have been disappointed" " Safety fears have also been expressed as the top of reef breaks the surface of the water at low tide, which has resulted in fins being ripped off boards." "....as a beached whale and seagulls have taken to sitting on it when it pokes out of the water"
Doesn't sound much like the £41m incoming money or the 55 new jobs are happening there. I doubt they are happening either at the estate agents dealing with the surf pod sales, the non existent cafe and luxury shops on the pier or even the those trying to sell surf equipment. Maybe the council could dismantle the Boscombe fountain and place it on top of the defunct reef. Not only would it offer more space for marine birds to perch upon but it might offer a tourist attraction as thousands could crowd the cliff top to see the eighth wonder of the world. Assuming the bit of the cliff they were on did not have it's view obscured by the Moneycombe development.
Hooray for the councillors - trebles all round !
rainbowkisses
says...
11:17pm Fri 5 Mar 10
Skono wrote:I think any tax payer of Bournemouth has a valid reason to be there, after all, it was OUR money that build this bloody thing in the first place. It is ok to say surfers etc should decide if it works or not, but how will we know that ALL the surfers points of view are going to be heard? This council have a habit of repeating what they like, and ignoring what they don't. I have heard some say it's great, some say it's not.....any bets on which ones the Council will listen to?
Monday 13.00 hrs Boscombe Pier The Echo and their news editor will be meeting a group of us for the 'full inside track' on ASR and all the dealings of the council. This meeting is for people who know what they are talking about, so if you are willing to come along then please do. We think it is high time that we asked the council for a formal disciplinary to be brought against Roger Brown and all those involved. See you there, but please, again, unless you are an experienced surfer/windsurfer/ki tesurfer/SUPer, or have a genuine valid point, then this meeting is not for you. This meeting is to build a solid case against ASR and the council to pull apart any of their future lies or idiotic excuses. Finally, please if you have 'funny or witty' comments to add, all you do is make yourself look childish and people simply laugh AT you, not with you, so please, politely, leave your comments somewhere else. Thanks Cheers
time nor Tide
says...
8:00am Sat 6 Mar 10
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After all the accusations flying around it is only completeness that is required. Its not as if the reality confronting everyone is not obvious clear and apparent , its now a matter of clear and complete information from.
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1.the academics
2.the local surfers.
3.the competative surfers.
4.the local hospitality industry.
5.other associated commerce
This will all paint a complete picture of what is and can be expected to happen.
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Obviously if something is out of whack between all these reports it will stand out like the proverbials.
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So its time to gather information on all and more of those things and have it presented as being easily verifiable as complete and truefull .
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Time for smokescreens , tricks and mirrors is long gone and time to settle debts properly and truefully has come.
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I dont think Skono excluded anyone with a good contribution to make from being welcome at his meeting. I think he wants to keep the agenda concise and includes as many as possible that represent affected groups or those immediatly affected.
Tax payers of course are a large effected group.
sherlock_holmes
says...
8:42am Wed 10 Mar 10
The case of the missing MILLIONS and the MONOWAVE has now been opened by the request of the local surfers. They said its a One WAVE WONDER! Watch this space as watson and sherlock reveal what has happened to the missing millions and why the monowave is a one wave wonder. Sherlock and Watson will leave no scumbag alone untill the millions or promised and purchased wave shape is recovered.
More Surf Reef stories
- Researchers look into value of £3m Boscombe surf reef
- Boscombe surf reef: Marine firms claim ASR owes them £60,000
- Sub-contractor wins county court judgement against ASR
- Boat strike at surf reef is no longer ‘clear cut’
- £150,000 in reserve cash being spent on surf reef
- ASR to come back in 2012 to improve surf reef
- Handling of surf reef not been our 'finest hour'
- Future of Boscombe surf reef hangs in balance
- Weather delays surf reef repairs
- Work begins on Boscombe Surf Reef
Boscombe surf report will remain "secret" says council
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pete furtsada says...
8:27am Fri 5 Mar 10
that is a mockery no dought