FULL details of BCP Council's £3m Bounce Back grants to businesses across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can be revealed today.

Around 100 businesses, large and small and some sole traders have been awarded the government cash to help in the recovery from the pandemic.

Key sectors include hospitality, retail, arts and culture, education and events with some big names such as Bournemouth Airport and Bournemouth Sevens, Poole Harbour Festival in the mix.

To qualify, businesses had to satisfy a council panel that the projects would help the economy bounce back and other criteria, with each section marked out of five.

The process was overseen by the council's deputy leader, Cllr Philip Broadhead and senior officers.

Cllr Broadhead told the Echo the awards were made on strict criteria and he described the scheme as "brilliant."

He said it was up for a national award for its creativity.

He added the criteria were "ability to generate pride in place, demonstrate innovation, contribute towards the region’s economic bounce back and deliverability.

"This was scored by external partners, before an internal panel confirmed the awards."

Businessman Andy Price who owns Aruba and West Beach in Bournemouth said it was "terrific help for local business climbing out of the pandemic with good ideas, innovation and hard work."

n Meanwhile parish councillors in Hurn are to invite Cllr Philip Broadhead to explain why a grant of £70,000 has been given to a company aiming to build a lagoon water park opposite the airport.

The money, part Bounce Back Challenge Fund, will help Bournemouth-based Adventure Is Out There 365 submit a planning application to BCP.

But opponents say the controversial plan, on green belt land and next to a conservation area, is totally speculative and the money could have been better spent on more immediate plans for economic recovery.

They also say there are major infrastructure issues in the area.

Now the parish councillors will ask Cllr Broadhead to meet with them and explain the thinking behind the payment.

Cllr Broadhead has previously said the lagoon firm’s application met all the criteria to receive a grant including deliverability and generating a sense of pride in place.

Despite the speculative nature of the idea and the significant hurdles to overcome, it was given a deliverability score of 5/5.

Cllr Broadhead insisted the grant would not influence the outcome of a future planning application.