Environment News

Europe's first artificial surf reef delayed until coming year

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 November, 2008 : - - Europe's first artificial surf reef off the Dorset coast will not now be completed until next year.  The project off Boscombe had already been delayed but work has now been suspended until April 2009. Bournemouth Borough Council blamed the decision on the shorter days and weather conditions, and now hopes to open the £2.68m reef in September 2009.

Construction firm New Zealand-based ASR Ltd said its divers were struggling in the colder conditions. The project has been beset with problems since construction started behind schedule in the summer.  In a statement the council said: "The shorter days and winter weather do not permit long enough working sessions for safe and effective construction on this major underwater project.

Difficult weather conditions over the summer months brought about a later than anticipated start to the project. "This has inevitably had a knock-on effect to the anticipated completion date, and ASR believes that the expected weather conditions will make it impossible to complete the reef this year, as originally planned."

The reef site is 225m (740ft) out to sea, east of Boscombe Pier and covers the size of a football pitch. The structure, which will double the size of waves, is part of a £9.5m area redevelopment.

Read the full article at BBC News

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Source: BBC News

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