A CONTROVERSIAL art installation planned for Bournemouth beach has been told it does not have council permission after sensitivity concerns.

Stephanie Lane, a London-based artist, was set to feature her latest art installation this weekend but has been told by BCP Council permission has not been granted.

The art was going to feature a “plight of trawler caught fish”, including an undisclosed number of people caught in nets on the beach.

However, the installation, set to take place on Sunday, May 26, would have been almost exactly on the anniversary of when two children drowned in the sea off Bournemouth beach.

On May 31, 2023, 12-year-old Sunnah Khan and 17-year-old Joe Abbess got into difficulty while swimming near Bournemouth Pier and drowned.

Another eight casualties were pulled from the water and treated at the scene for non life-threatening injuries.

BCP Council previously said they had not been contacted by the artist and were making urgent attempts to contact them.

Cllr Millie Earl, deputy leader of the council and the portfolio holder for connected communities, said in an update: “We had not been contacted by the artist, nor given any permission for this art installation.

“At our request, we received details of their proposals yesterday afternoon.

“We have since informed the artist that the permissions they are seeking for this installation will not be provided.

“Whilst we welcome art and culture to our region, we feel that this particular proposal, at the date and location specified, is not one we can approve.”