Surf reef nears completion

Bournemouth Borough Council has said Boscombe's surf reef is close to completion.
The local authority's media team said the final phase of construction would include a "crucial" bathymetric survey (although no explanation was offered as to what that means).
The remaining sand will be distributed across the rest of the beach ahead of next week's Air Festival.
Additional waves are visible on the site of the £3million reef, however, the best and most popular surfing spot still seems to be on the west side of the pier.

Burberry in Boscombe

A rather unusual fashion has emerged on Boscombe Beach of late.
If you have witnessed the local resurgence of Burberry, you'll know it's not being sported by teenage pram pushers or skinny white boys smoking weed.
The newest devotees of the chav check are Jewish women of all ages, although I have yet to spot a man wearing a Burberry kippah.

More diversions for Spa residents

Boscombe Spa residents are set for more disruption with further road works planned in the area.
Bournemouth Borough Council has warned locals they will not be able to turn right into Boscombe Spa Road from Christchurch Road for three weeks from Monday, July 20.
Drivers will be diverted via St John's Road until the work is complete.
The stretch of road between Christchurch Roundabout and Boscombe town centre has been a traffic blackspot for nearly a year with almost constant road works and closures for one reason or another.
The council said: "The works are part of a series of improvements being undertaken on Christchurch Road, designed to reduce accidents and traffic delays, provide better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and undertake essential carriageway maintenance and resurfacing of footpaths."

Peregrine falcons attend college

This is a rather blurry image of one of the peregrine falcons that took up residence in the clock tower above Bournemouth and Poole College in Lansdowne.

Workers in Royal London House, opposite the college, enjoyed a birds eye view of the avian des res.
One member of staff at Bournemouth University, which occupies Royal London House, said she had seen the falcons catch other birds, including pigeons, in mid-flight and dismember them on the stone lintels surrounding the bell tower.
The birds, which sit in the uppermost section of the tower, cannot be easily seen from street level.

Photo by Roz Tappenden.

Free bus - But is it Pokesdown or Boscombe?

Travellers to the recently renamed Pokesdown for Boscombe Station can now catch a free shuttle bus to the beach.
The Shoreline bus service, which launched on Saturday, is free to rail ticket holders to Bournemouth or Pokesdown for Boscombe or to anyone using the long-stay car park behind Boscombe Sainsbury's in Hawkwood Road.
Pokesdown for Boscombe Station opened in 1886 and was originally called Boscombe until another station of the same name was opened in Ashley Road 11 years later.
The Ashley Road Boscombe Station was shut down in 1965 following the Beeching Report, which drastically reduced the size of the country's rail network, but Pokesdown Station was not renamed until May this year.
The local Liberal Democrat group has included plans in its manifesto to reopen the Ashley Road stop as part of Boscombe's regeneration but the proposals were branded "too expensive" following a study by Bournemouth's head of planning and transport.
The shuttle bus will ferry holidaymakers and daytrippers to the beach every day until September. At weekends it will also pick up and drop off passengers at the Littledown Centre in Chaseside.
Fare paying passengers and concessionary pass holders can also use the service, which is partly funded by South West Trains.

Boscombe forgets the birthday of its oldest friend

A little-recognised anniversary passed today without acknowledgement - the 120th birthday of Boscombe Pier.
Despite being a much-loved focal point on the seafront, everyone forgot this special day.
In fairness, after many incarnations, the structure bears little resemblance to its original design.
The resort's first pier, designed by Archibold Smith, was opened on July 29, 1889, by the Duke of Argyll.
The 600ft structure cost £12,000 to complete but by 1904 its lack of popularity prompted owners, The Boscombe Pier Company, to sell it to the council.
By the 1920s it was in need of repair and underwent a partial rebuild, extending it by another 150ft.
During World War II the pier was closed and by the late 50s yet more of it had started to crumble so concrete replacements were made along with the modern pier entrance, which still stands today.
In 1962 a theatre opened in a new building at the pier's head and in the years that followed was used as a skating rink, a restaurant and an amusement arcade but it was eventually closed by the council in 1988 for safety reasons.
After a £2.4m restoration the new improved Grade II listed pier was finally reopened in October 2007 and the refurbishment of its entrance building is nearing completion.
Happy birthday Boscombe Pier and here's to another 120 years.

Beach hut designs go on display

Entries for the Boscombe beach hut design competition will go on display this Tuesday.
Residents and designers were asked to submit ideas for four unique beach huts, accessible for disabled users.
More than 160 models will go on display in the President Suite of the Carrington House Hotel, Knyveton Road, from 10am to 7pm.
Entries have been submitted from all over the world.
Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to vote on their favourite designs before the final decision is made on Wednesday, July 1.
The huts will be built in time for next year's holiday season.