Coastal Erosion Explained

This video does a great job of explaining the process of coastal erosion.  By joining seaside communities in constructing our Multi-Purpose Reefs, ASR seeks to mitigate the environmental and economic damage created by this force. 

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Plymouth University played key role in artificial surf reef

ORIGINAL LINK

PLYMOUTH University is one of the key organisations involved with Europe's first artificial reef.

The new wave-riding spot was officially launched yesterday and is aimed at improving the height of waves at a south coast resort.

Around a dozen surfers and body boarders took to the water after Bournemouth Borough Council announced "perfect" conditions for launching the £3million reef in Boscombe, Dorset.

Mark Davidson, a surf science lecturer at Plymouth University and wave rider for 34 years will assess the reef's performance for the next year looking at the quality of the wave and the number of surfable days.

He will visit the reef and take pictures of the waves, how they form, how they move and their shape.

Sand bags covering roughly the size of a football pitch are fixed to the sea bed, 225 metres from the shore east of Boscombe pier.

The large geo-textile bags pumped hard with sand mimic the effects of a natural reef and act like a ramp, pushing waves upwards and shaping them into barrels.

The reef does not create waves but doubles the height and number of good surfing days.

The newly opened surf scene, which has come under criticism from some who believe it is in the wrong place, is one of only four artificial reefs in the world, sharing the limelight with Narrowneck, Queensland, Cables, Western Australia and Mt Maunganui, New Zealand.

Dr Kerry Black, managing director of ASR Marine Consultants Ltd, designed the surf reef after travelling the entire Pacific Rim measuring 44 of the best surf breaks to recreate a world-class wave.

Europe's first artificial surf reef finally opens in Dorset

ORIGINAL LINK: 24dash.com

Europe's first artificial surf reef was officially launched today after criticism the South Coast attraction does not work and is in the wrong place.

Around a dozen surfers and body boarders took to the water after Bournemouth Borough Council announced "perfect" conditions for launching the £3 million reef in Boscombe, Dorset.

Surfers had expressed fears it was on the wrong side of the pier, the wrong way round, too big and potentially dangerous.

But Roger Brown, the council's director of leisure services, said it was too early to judge.

"There's been some chop, there's not been reliable Atlantic swell coming through and this is what this is designed to magnify," he said.

"It's too early to tell but obviously we foresaw that. We had to rely on ASR to design the reef for Boscombe's characteristics.

"We have now got to give it the chance to see if it does perform against the criteria that we have agreed with them."

He added: "We are delighted to bring this reef to Boscombe. It's the first one in Europe and there's no doubt it has changed Boscombe forever."

Sean Wade, from Sorted surf shop, said: "Longer term it will need tweaking but with any project it is finding out how it works and what the best conditions are.

"Yesterday it looked pretty amazing, there were reports of body boarders getting 20 yard barrels which for a South Coast wave is completely unheard of.

"From yesterday's performance it was a better body board wave than surfing wave but it's continually changing.

"It all depends on what conditions there are on a certain day.

"It's the best wave on the South Coast for being hollow without a doubt.

"It's put Boscombe on the map in relation to surfing. People don't know the second largest surfing community in the UK is based in Bournemouth."

The delayed reef has spiralled in costs from £1.4 million in 2006 to £3 million.

Sand bags covering roughly the size of a football pitch are fixed to the sea bed, 225 metres from the shore east of Boscombe pier.

It is one of four artificial reefs worldwide including Narrowneck, Queensland, Cables, Western Australia and Mt Maunganui, New Zealand.

The large geo-textile bags pumped hard with sand mimic the effects of a natural reef and act like a ramp, pushing waves upwards and shaping them into powerful barrels.

It does not create waves but doubles the height and number of good surfing days.

The reef is designed to provide a grade five wave on a day with good swell, which is in the challenging range and compares with the Hawaii Pipeline which is a grade 8.

Dr Kerry Black, managing director of ASR Ltd, designed the Boscombe surf reef after travelling the entire Pacific Rim measuring 44 of the world's best surf breaks to recreate a world-class wave.

It is part of an £11 million Boscombe Spa Regeneration Project funded through the sale of a seafront car park to Barratt Homes for development into 169 flats.

Paul Clarke from the Bournemouth Surfing Centre, said: "It's just a welcome relief to see it working.

"Since construction finished we have had the flattest spell of any autumn for about 10 years which has been frustrating."

John Weaver, marketing and events manager for Bournemouth Tourism, said: "It is important to remember the reef is not a wave machine, it works to enhance the conditions that occur naturally and so, when there is no swell elsewhere, there won't be swell on the reef either."

Plymouth University will assess the reef's performance for the next year looking at the quality of the wave and the number of surfable days.

The council is withholding £150,000 pending the performance reviews.

BBC NEWS: Is surf reef good for Boscombe?

BBC NEWS : Boscombe is on a big mission to improve its rundown image and attract a new crowd of visitors all year round.

The Dorset town's centrepiece is the multimillion-pound artificial surf reef, the first of its kind in Europe which, it is hoped, is set to enhance the quality of waves and improve surfing conditions.

The seafront promenade has already been redeveloped, a new boutique hotel is welcoming its first guests and owning a slice of a luxurious apartment block could set you back £1m.

But are developers forgetting what is already there?

The £11m redevelopment of Boscombe seafront has already run over budget, with the artificial surf reef almost doubling in cost from £1.4m to £3m and opening more than a year late.

'Falling to pieces'

Steve Kent, of Boscombe Traders' Association, said that some of the extra money Bournemouth Borough Council had used in the project could have been spent on updating the town centre.

"The principle is a brilliant idea," he said.

"The work that they have done to the seafront is great, although it could have been done a lot cheaper.

Traders want more investment in the town centre

"What we have is an old 1960s precinct which is 40 years out of date, it needs upgrading because it is slowly falling to pieces."

Lisa Northover, a councillor for Boscombe West, and runs website Boscalicious to promote the town.

She moved to the town 10 years ago and said when she used to look out of her window she would see open drug taking and prostitution.

"I have seen such a massive improvement already from it," she said.

"There has been a lot of new, really high quality businesses that have come to the area. It's just so different to 10 years ago.

"I think some people are willing it not to work, but you can see it working.

"So many people away from Boscombe have heard about it, people see it as something special.

"What I am expecting to see is more of a year round impact. We are already busy in the summer and are more likely to see people coming in the winter."

An affluent surfer market will be attracted to the area, extending the tourism through winter Mark Smith, Bournemouth Borough Council

David Kilburn, head of business development at Bournemouth University, said the reef development would draw in a "hotchpotch" of people.

But he believes social problems still in the town need to be contained and eradicated or it will risk impacting on tourism.

"[The project] is creating a lot of impact," he said.

"Bournemouth itself is very busy in the summer even if the weather isn't good.

"I think the surf reef will continue to draw people to that part of Boscombe beach area. People will want to go down there and check it out.

"I don't think necessarily the people coming in will pose any problems.

"The issue is one that we have always had, there are some socially disadvantaged people living in that area and they have to be careful that they help those people, rather than having drunks around the beach, drug addicts openly taking drugs.

Are business owners feeling the effect of the surf reef?

"It needs to be contained and eradicated and the only way to do this is to help these people."

Mark Smith, director of tourism with Bournemouth Borough Council, said that the reef met expectations even before it was completed in terms of regeneration and attracting new businesses.

"A great amount of both public and private money has been invested in Boscombe and this would not have happened without the reef," he said.

"An affluent surfer market will be attracted to the area, extending the tourism through winter...rather than the trade having to rely on the traditional period of July and August.

"Compared to other artificial reef projects in the world, we have gone so much further with the Boscombe reef as it is so well-supported by excellent facilities on land."

Another big tourism project on the south coast widely criticised for being over budget and behind schedule was Portsmouth's 170m (558ft) Spinnaker Tower.

In 2005, Portsmouth City Council finally opened the long-awaited structure, which depicts a billowing sail.

The Spinnaker Tower is attracting 100,000 visitors a year

The project, originally due to open for the Millennium celebrations, was five years late and cost £36m, more than £11m of that being footed by the taxpayer.

But it has been a success, attracting 100,000 visitors and bringing in more than half a million pounds a year.

"It has become an icon of the south coast and it has drawn the city together," said Portsmouth councillor Lee Hunt, cabinet member for culture and leisure.

"The lesson that I could give would be to get behind this project, make it work and find ways of making it work.

"It is a ripple-effect, how to build on the success and how to best utilise the success."