Council renew Shoresports' licence after thousands sign a petition

Watersports company Shoresports has had its licence handed back to it following an uproar from angry residents who favoured the Christchurch business. 

Thousands signed an online petition calling for BCP Council to renew the tender for Shoresports, based in Mudeford Quay, after the council handed it to another bidder. 

A BCP Council spokeswoman admitted the council “could have been clearer with the scoring methodology” before decisions were reached. 

Council U-turn (Image: Shoresports)

She added: “We listened to the concerns raised during the initial procurement and, whilst the process was delivered in line with the financial regulations, we recognised we could have been clearer with the scoring methodology.  

“To reassure ourselves and those who previously bid for the contract we reopened the tender opportunity and invited both bidders to resubmit using the improved documentation.

Read more: Shoresports lose licence at Mudeford Quay after BCP issue new licence

“We have worked constructively with the bidders and, following this exercise, we have appointed Shoresports as the preferred bidder.  

“Their bid was the most economically advantageous bid evaluated against price and quality.” 

Shoresports (Image: Shoresports)

Nick May, owner of Shoresports, said his company will be reopen after the winter break in April and will remain for at least the next three years. 

Mr May thanked the thousands of people who signed the petition, adding: “We are absolutely chuffed and ecstatic to be allowed to stay in business and can’t wait to get started again. 

“We appreciate the local support and it is very encouraging and very good to see so many people wanted us to stay.” 

Read more: Council rejects petition calling for return of Shoresports' contract

More than 3,600 people signed the petition against the council’s initial decision, which was rejected by the local authority because it “does not accept a petition if there is an alternative route to challenge the decision”. 

In this case, it involved a formal complaints and appeals procedure, which Mr May did. 

At the time, he said the new company in the pipeline did not offer what his company had, including sea sailing and windsurfing. 

Mr May was also concerned that Shoresports, which he has owned for 11 years, had spent £30,000 on new equipment and was worried it would all go to waste.