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Council accused of inaccuracy over surf reef

10:00am Monday 24th May 2010 in


SURF reef company ASR has accused Bournemouth Borough Council of making “inaccurate” statements about the monitoring report that rated the reef sub-standard.

When the disappointing results of the reef assessment were released earlier this week, Bournemouth council said the New Zealand-based company accepted the findings and were committed to carrying out further work.

But ASR has since denied the reef has failed and claims the only criteria it has not met is regarding wave length.

And their latest statement indicates that discussions between themselves and the council could prove more complicated than originally hoped.

It states: “ASR Ltd asserts that some of the statements made regarding the monitoring report are inaccurate.

“ASR Ltd has requested that Bournemouth Borough Council rectify the situation and issue an accurate statement of findings.

“ASR would like to give Bournemouth Borough Council the opportunity to resolve the situation before commenting further as to its position with respect to the monitoring report.

“As was part of the original plan, ASR and Bournemouth Borough Council are currently assessing reef performance and discussing refinements to the Boscombe Multi-Purpose Reef in areas that can be improved.”

When asked to comment, Roger Brown, service director for leisure and tourism, said only: “We are continuing discussions with ASR.”

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Comments(29)

Was Charlie says...
11:00am Mon 24 May 10

When did it become "Boscombe Multi-Purpose Reef"? Thought it was supposed to be a surf reef.
..........
If it's multi-purpose, what were the other purposes ('multi' meaning 'many'), and how many of those purposes have been met?
..........
Leaving the official assessment aside, how can ASR be content with all the other adverse reporting and comment around the world? That won't have done their reputation any good at all, if they had one in the first place.

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Perihelion says...
11:16am Mon 24 May 10

Yeap, 'Was Charlie', it is a Surf Reef. Only a Surf Reef. Never anything but only a Surf Reef. No multi-purposes in it at all: just a surf reef. (Believe me, I know). These are now ASR 'inaccuracies'. Please remember everyone, this long cold winter created no wave swell.

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Azphreal says...
11:25am Mon 24 May 10

Well thankyou ASR and the council as anyone who watched 'Have i got news for you' will know we are even more of a national joke. ASR's answer is the same as when someone is fired they start saying its not their fault its sexism or racial. When will the council FORCE ASR to do what they were paid to do? The reason ASR now say 'multi-purpose' is they are trying to say it was also for marine life and coastal protection!

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simonhumby says...
11:31am Mon 24 May 10

It's no longer just a failed 3 million pound surf reef.

It's also failed 3 million pound environmental habitat and a failed 3 million pound coastal protection scheme.

and "Multi-purpose" is a failed attempt to make us think we are getting value for money.

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reefskeptic says...
12:12pm Mon 24 May 10

in case they havent noticed its the surfers that have voted about where its possible to surf and where its not.
The "duress' starts again?

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Syd Poumen says...
12:43pm Mon 24 May 10

The letters ASR are Multi-Purpose and interchangeable, as Roger Brown will talk through!

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petercastle says...
12:58pm Mon 24 May 10

Boscombe Unemployment levels remain due to this reef.

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BmthNewshound says...
1:08pm Mon 24 May 10

It was inevitable that a war of words would break out between ASR and Bournemouth Council. I am sure that both parties are guilty of making “inaccurate” statements about the reef during this farcical project. The reef was supposed to enhance the towns reputation as a tourism centre but has become nothing more than an embarrassment.

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arendea says...
1:26pm Mon 24 May 10

this is all getting SO boring now!!

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Capt. Ahab (ret.) says...
4:42pm Mon 24 May 10

Ahoy 'arendea',
That be exactly what ye BBC want of thee and other steadfast Brethren, just to quietly give in. It can't be allowed to happen!!!

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whingeyminge says...
5:58pm Mon 24 May 10

Well said Ahab. You're with us - we'lll neve give in. Three million pounds and there's not a clean toilet in sight. And those lifegurads in their fancy outfits - idle to the bone the lot of them. All it takes is a stiff brush, a bottle of disenfectant and five minutes effort, but do they - oh no. We watched one little mare and she didn't pick up a brush the entire day - madam was far to lah di dah for that. And those people from the surf shop - larking about in the sea with kids while you can't even walk across the gardens for dog muck. Self, self, self they are. Someone needs to get a grip. You don't see piles of dog muck on the London Eye, oh no. And the bus stop is right outside it. That's why people go there. No-one is ever going to come to this reef thing while they have to tred over piles of the stuff after the bus has dropped them in the wrong spot. Capt. Ahab is right about that and it's good he's sticking up for us old folk. He's been all around the world and he'll tell you - Malta spotless it is.

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Leonard Lodger says...
6:01pm Mon 24 May 10

ASR's website is awash with dubious positive comments of how well the reef is working, however they removed the public comments facility back at the start of the year and deleted any adverse comments declaring it did not work. The council seem to have messed this up from the start with limited opportinity to resolve the situation. Roger "spinning top" Brown just adds to the problem and doesn't deserve to keep his job. The latest spin declares the reef is multi-purpose which is at odds with the denials only a few months ago the reef was not constructed for coastal protection or as a marine reserve. It was sold to the public as a surf reef, a recreational asset to the town for people to surf on. ASR are defending their position with an attack, trying to create a legal smokescreen by blaming the BBC. It's obvious ASR have no intention of returning to undertake any remedial work and their stance claiming the reports findings are innacurate only show they have a better understanding of what was contracted and how they can avoid responsibility than the BBC do. Today the government announced a savage timetable for cuts in public spending, perhaps the BBC could get ahead of the game and get rid of Roger and his cronies who wasted so much of the towns future. Did anyone noticed the lack of deckchairs available for visitors to the seafront this weekend, seems like the BBC are cutting back already by not employing deck-chair attendants. The reef is a growing catalyst for discontent that shows how far removed the BBC are from the people they serve, perhaps Rogers wages could be put to better use? Lets not even think about the Kings Park fine fiasco. The BBC doesn't need a shake up, it needs replacing with people who will serve the community, not take advantage of it.

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reefskeptic says...
9:50pm Mon 24 May 10

Wingyming, less balderdash and shenanigans please. It is really behaviour unbecomming of you. More repairs and less B&S. Just when i start to feel a little confidence we get this from you?

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whingeyminge says...
11:39am Tue 25 May 10

Oh no you don't. You can try to censor us and divert attention away from the real problems but you can't cover it up for ever and this forum is for everyone. Anyone can see the problem for themselves. Killer pitbulls doing their business all over the beach, toilets that haven't seem a brush in goodness knows how long. Bus stop on a vicious slope so no-one can get on or off safely. Those are the issues, not that silly little reef. We know what you want with your surfing and lifeguards. Oh yes - we know all about that baywatch program and the sort of people they show on that in their swimsuits. But you won't get your way while we can try - we will whinge, whinge, whinge until it's fixed and we get back a decent seaside town that nice people with families will want to come and see. Ahab is right, he'll tell you. Brighton has clean facilities - you could eat your dinner off the floor there - that's why nice people go there.

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arendea says...
1:34pm Tue 25 May 10

quite the opposite, Im not for giving in, but with all the winging and moaning thats been done, everyone is exactly HOW FAR forward with the council and ASR?? *we pause to ask the question of ourselves, is it ever going to get resoloved because of the residents moaning?* (Rhetorical question.. as the answer is NO!!)
And now ASR are battling back. Let them fight it out in court now, thats the only way it will be sorted.
I stand by my elongated YAWN at the whole fiasco while I go play on the stony beach ;)

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woolamai says...
1:54pm Tue 25 May 10

Arendea. I think you'll find they are quite a bit further forward than you think. I have it on good authority that after a massive effort by local whingers - spanning 392,322 seperate posts, totalling 6,788,999 words, over a period of 4 years, on the Echo website - ASR have finally come to the party and given a response. It consists of 2 words, one of which is 'off'. It's expected that another 4 years of moaning might get a second response from ASR - this time containing 3 words, of which the last two will be 'off already!'.

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Capt. Ahab (ret.) says...
2:45pm Tue 25 May 10

arendea wrote:
quite the opposite, Im not for giving in, but with all the winging and moaning thats been done, everyone is exactly HOW FAR forward with the council and ASR?? *we pause to ask the question of ourselves, is it ever going to get resoloved because of the residents moaning?* (Rhetorical question.. as the answer is NO!!)
And now ASR are battling back. Let them fight it out in court now, thats the only way it will be sorted.
I stand by my elongated YAWN at the whole fiasco while I go play on the stony beach ;)
Ahoy 'arendea'
If thee wishess to yawn at an obscene waste of gold coins then do carry on yawning, other Brehtren it seem will continue to voice an opinion on yer behalf, be that to yer satisfaction?

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Capt. Ahab (ret.) says...
2:53pm Tue 25 May 10

woolamai wrote:
Arendea. I think you'll find they are quite a bit further forward than you think. I have it on good authority that after a massive effort by local whingers - spanning 392,322 seperate posts, totalling 6,788,999 words, over a period of 4 years, on the Echo website - ASR have finally come to the party and given a response. It consists of 2 words, one of which is 'off'. It's expected that another 4 years of moaning might get a second response from ASR - this time containing 3 words, of which the last two will be 'off already!'.
Ahoy ‘woolamai’
Would this be thy same ‘good
Authority’ yer had when posting this comment?? ‘Cos they seem to have let even thou,thy trusted servant down as well, that be what happens when thee deal with ‘pirates’


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woolamai, christchurch says...
8:21pm Thu 8 Apr 10
Apparently the 'tweak' has been defined.

All that is needed is to rotate the reef anticlockwise 10 degrees and increase the width of the ramp along the ocean facing length of the reef by 10m or so.

ASR and the council are in final discussions about which weekend to make the changes.

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whingeyminge says...
6:22pm Tue 25 May 10

TWEAK! TWEAK!! TWEAK!!! How do you move the toilets with just a TWEAK!!!! More dog muck bins, and the bustop - that needs TWEAKING! You're so right AHAB. You tell that woolamai and his ilk we don't give tuppence for their reef or their pods with no toilets.

You've been to Margate Ahab - none of those killer pitbulls from America messing the pavements there. No playing volleyball in next to nothing. Just nice clean facilities. That's why decent people go on bus trips to Margate.

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reefskeptic says...
11:45pm Tue 25 May 10

wing-ming,

still Balderdash, shenanagins and mischief from you.
less BS&M more "making good " please.

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Pepper Pig says...
8:30am Wed 26 May 10

It's funny really but the one thing I miss now are the posts from all those poor misguided surfers who thought that the 'reef' really would work! I've lost count of the number of times 'sufers' posted comments in support of the 'Greef' as perhaps it should now be called...

Where have they all gone?

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reefskeptic says...
11:45am Wed 26 May 10

@ Pepper Pig, can you remember the response any "normal" thinking person got when they questioned the fervour and "craze" associated with the "innovation"? Let alone people who were qualified to comment by their individual research?

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arendea says...
1:32pm Wed 26 May 10

I was and still am a reef 'optimist' - Im still here! But I think you will find that even the most stubborn of us old-school Echo commenters dont even bother on this subject any more! I dont remember any of you guys a year and two years ago with your two pence.. sorry, two peices of silver, to put into the mix, and there was a lot of us... for and against! The problem is that its done now, its too late to change it, so why are people still stressing themselves over whinging about it still, its not going away, not until the next bad winterstorm washes it away ;-) (joke, but that will probably be the next thing knowing this story so far)
So now ASR and the council can battle it out between them as to what adjustments need to be made and who fulfilled what contract or not. The money is gone, too late for refunds and arguing over who was right or not... you never know the reef may work one day, maybe not even as it was originally intended, but not too late for lessons to be learnt. That should be the subject of debate now!
Im off to the beach now to make the most of what we DO have.. I shall await the 'wave' of 'oh how foolish you are arendea' comments, that I always get back when comment... no idea why ;0)

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whingeyminge says...
7:28pm Wed 26 May 10

@reefskeptic - and any "normal" thinking person can see what's happening. You can try and boss everyone about but it's not your forum. No-one died and left you in charge. Anyone can write on here and we will. We know your game trying to waste more money on your reef. Well you won't get your way. Not while we have a say. And we're not the only ones. Look here:

http://www.bournemou
thecho.co.uk/news/di
stricts/purbeck/8181
105.Take_your_dog_me
ss_home__owners_told
/

We want our nice town back and we won't have it taken away by your sort.

Ahab was right - sneaks your are. And sneaking never got anyone anywhere. And it won't be any good sneaking when you're up to your armpits in dog mess. Tower of London -that's a nice place to visit. No dog mess there, and proper tablecloths in the cafe, linen not those paper ones.

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time nor Tide says...
8:18pm Wed 26 May 10

@arendea, its been quite a while?
To try and be helpful I have had some discussions with a surfer who is a coastal engineer and he suggested that putting a hook at the end of a groin to collect more sand (best nourished initially) creates a larger beach and a surfing sandbank.
(at very low cost). It only works where sand is transported along a beach and where sand is available for nourishment. Any of the UK's coastal experts is capable of doing the technical work without alien intevention. The "hook" of course has to face the way that the water moves on a beach. Just a low cost way of progressing maybe? Maybe a research project for the University to move with? For the sizes, directions and spacings? Maybe the cost of a new sustainable surfing sandbank could be a little more than a groin a year?
Best to try it away from everyone and everything in the first place? ps it cant be patented !

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Capt. Ahab (ret.) says...
3:30pm Thu 27 May 10

Ahoy arendea,
So why ye come out of 'retirement' to yawn even more? what be thy purpose then, to tell me and other Brethren to be 'optmistic' about a very expensive venture that was doomed at the outset and now that has proven to be the case, forget about it (not sure i find that a joke) Does it bother ye that much that Brehtren voice outrage at high priced incompetance....P.S. thou seem to be a 'whinging @ whingers' Har.

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time nor Tide says...
12:26pm Sat 29 May 10

This is classic and worthy of a Nobel lauriet nomination

I quote
.
"simonhumby, bournemouth says...
4:27pm Sat 22 May 10

Google "raglan firm defends substandard reef"

it says "ASR Ltd managing director Dr Shaw Mead said he understood the project at Boscombe in Bournemouth had been a huge success"

Joking? Lying? Badly-informed? Parallel universe? - we just don't know"
.
simon are you available to go to Sweden next year with a tux?

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reefwatching says...
10:37am Tue 8 Jun 10

So ASR, as far as I know the council have not retracted any of their comments regarding the monitoring report. So what are you going to do about it??

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time nor Tide says...
12:14pm Wed 9 Jun 10

They may keep sprucking how huge a sucess it is . Thats on the basis if something is said often enough people accept it as the truth (Dr Goebbels?) then of course it doesnt need any fixing? why is there seems some deja-vue in all of this?

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