COUNCIL critics fear a special investigation into Bournemouth’s troubled surf reef project will prove nothing more than a “token effort”.

The over-due and over-budget regeneration scheme will be the subject of a special scrutiny meeting on Wednesday evening.

Officers will be asked to explain exactly how the costs of the Boscombe Spa Village project have escalated by a third to more than £11 million.

They are likely to face a grilling on:

  • Why, in June 2008, councillors were assured the overspend was purely consigned to the surf reef when seven months later, it was revealed that nearly every aspect of the scheme was over-budget;
  • Why the costs and estimated income associated with the surf pod beach huts were never included in the budget until last month;
  • Why the council boasted of securing a “guarantee” that the reef would be completed by the end of 2008 when, in fact, this was subject to good weather;
  • Why the council has paid for accommodation for surf reef workers, even when they have been out of the country;
  • Why the Overstrand building was not subjected to a full, structural survey.

But Parry Brooks, chair of the Boscombe Cliffs residents’ association, said: “I fear councillors are only going through with this investigation because they have got to be seen to be doing something. It could be a whitewash.

“They should have had this meeting after the last overspend. People have been burying their heads in the sand over this issue.”

He said he was infuriated to read in the Daily Echo that Cllr Beverley Dunlop, cabinet member for leisure and tourism, was “concerned” about rising costs.

“She has been giving us flak for ages for not supporting this project so how can she now say that she shares our concerns? And if she has been so concerned, why hasn’t she done something about them?”

Cllr Dunlop said it was “in the public interest” that the issue be subjected to “full, independent scrutiny”.

Last month, cabinet members deferred a decision on allocating a further £1.8m of money to the project until after the scrutiny panel has met.

She said: “It is vital that, as a cabinet, we formally seek the views of other elected members, representing Bournemouth’s residents, before making our decision.

“What I am confident of is this council’s continued commitment to regenerating Boscombe and the Boscombe Spa Village programme.”

The 6pm town hall meeting is open to the public.