Boscombe Surf Reef: Don’t dream, it’s over.
Those close to the dream of the artificial surf reef in Boscombe are preparing themselves for the latest developments in the controversial project – Boscombe Surf Reef is now closed.
It's all gone quiet over there, but I'm not gloating. ASR you suck!
Completed in November 2009 at a cost of £3.2million to Bournemouth Council, the artificial reef, a product of New Zealand based company ASR, was supposed to bring quality reef break surf to the area just east of Boscombe Pier. However it was closed in March due to health and safety concerns.
Health and safety in surfing? Well, the fact is that the council provided this leisure facility, and thusly it’s their nuts on the chopping block if someone dies out there, just like if a climbing frame collapses in a public park. The problems arose when the sand bags shifted, creating dangerous gaps and gullies that could potentially snare someone. Add to that the degradation of the large sacks that create the reef – loose bits of material just perfect for snagging a poor water user, and you get the picture – the reef is turning into an underwater garden of death.
ASR is said to be returning after an independent expert found the £3million reef was only meeting only four out of 11 performance targets, and clearly none of those were wave quality. Bournemouth council is holding onto a final £150,000 retainer until ASR begins the remedial work. It will pay ASR £55,000 on completion of “all necessary work” with the remaining £95,000 paid if the work is a success. An ASR spokesman said: “We currently plan to start the beginning stage of refinement work this spring/summer.”
Anyone with a basic grasp of swell dynamics knew (and expressed quite vocally), just plonking a reef in the sea won’t bring powerful set waves if all around is just dribbling mush. Unfortunately, the sales team at ASR were obviously quite effective and the council bought the idea. Fair play to Bournemouth Council though, they believed they were doing the right thing, and how many other councils around the UK would spend £3million on the local surfing population?
One clear positive that has come out of the reef is that the Boscombe sea front has undergone a radical redevelopment. Where once there was naught but crack-heads and graffiti, there are now bistros, surf shops, pretty girls walking small dogs, and luxury apartments, all positioned to capitalise on the influx of international surfers and competitions that the reef would bring.
ASR have a miserable track record with their artificial reef projects, the Opunake Surf Reef in New Zealand has been dubbed a ‘costly mistake’ and the trust behind that reef are even having trouble contacting ASR.
It’s time for ASR to stop peddling these dreams to naive but well intentioned councils around the world, and to start making serious gestures of atonement for the lies and false hopes that they’ve sold everyone from the local surfer, local businesses, property developers and councils.
Here at Surface to Air the South Coast Surf dream is not dead and we still scour the Uk for the perfect Break, Finding Waves Locally is Half the fun so don't let it get you down,come and check out our new ranges of surfboards and all the 2011 season kitesurf and wakeboard goodies for when there's just no swell.