Surf's up

Surf's up

It is due to be the jewel in the crown of a multi-million pound project to rebrand a less than glamorous part of the Dorset coast.

A hi-tech artificial reef - the first of its kind in Europe - to bring a new surf culture and clientele to Boscombe in Bournemouth.

But questions over the surf reef's performance and safety were still being raised recently, e-mails seen by BBC News reveal.

Work was previously delayed on the reef between November and April due to bad weather, pushing the cost to £3m - nearly double the original price.

Recent e-mail correspondence between Bournemouth Borough Council and developer ASR, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, shows concerns over gaps in the artificial reef.

Surf reef safety questions raised (BBC News, 28 September 2009)