IT IS now almost 14 years ago that senior councillors, and officers first met with Professor Kerry Black from a small company in New Zealand, who later became ASR, to discuss the proposed Surf Reef.

I took that opportunity to question firstly, the fact that sheltered Bournemouth (or Poole) Bay did not appear to have the necessary wave regime for such to work as intended, that the method of construction did not appear to be of sufficient strength or accuracy in placement and finally the durability of the textile bags to be used.

No one else present supported my views and they seemed to consider me a “dismal jimmy”!

I requested Officers to contact Gold Coast in Australia where the only artificial surf reef had been built, not for surfing but to hold back thousands of tons of sand deposited for coastal protection.

I later spoke to the Chief Engineer of the project who told me that it would take five to 10 years before he would like to comment upon the reef.

(Later, aerial photographs became available showing that the reef had suffered considerable breaking up, with geotextile bags having been dislodged and lying on the sea bed.) The idea was adopted as a policy to pursue. This led to the brochure promising between two and three more surfing days with the reef compared with not having it, and “Cornish- type waves up to two-and-a-half times higher enabling National and International surfing events to be held.

However, it was not until some years later that the final decision was made to go ahead, with greatly reduced performance promises – an aspect the majority of councillors were unaware of at the time.

Unfortunately, when the actual contract was signed it did not include the normal legal and financial protection for the council against failure. One wonders why.

The reef was built and never lived up to its required performance. The poor construction was quickly manifest in the movement of the textile bags and opening up of cavities that could easily trap the unwary.

Now ASR are bankrupt.

I find it strange to hear council spokesmen telling us that they are “wedded” to the reef and how it has such a marvellous future for scuba diving.

One can only hope that the gaps that have appeared between the bags, so obvious on the aerial photographs, have all been closed up to ensure the safety of users.

I trust that a reasonable maintenance fund will also be set up to cover further repairs which will inevitably become necessary with time.

A sad, and very expensive story, illustrating how important it is to have well-informed councillors who are willing to carefully investigate and question everything involving the expenditure of public money.

ALDERMAN BASIL RATCLIFFE, Broadway, Southbourne