Claims that Bournemouth surf reef could be dismantled were yesterday ruled out by Bournemouth council’s executive director Tony Williams.

Following a meeting at the Town Hall to discuss ASR’s new proposals to rectify the reef’s faults, Mr Williams announced that a group had been formed to develop a technical solution to the reef’s performance.

He stressed that this would involve working with proposals by New Zealand-based contractor ASR to enhance its performance.

Leisure services director Roger Brown said panel members had also ruled out deconstruction, agreeing instead to focus their efforts on seeking “a solution that will deliver a more surfable wave”.

Earlier this year the council released results of the reef’s first monitoring exercise which showed that the controversial project was failing to meet four out of its 11 objectives.

The council is withholding a £150,000 performance-based payment to ASR until the reef is rectified with work expected to get under way next April or May.

Panel members Cllrs Basil Ratcliffe, Roger West, Ben Grower and Michael Everingham will liaise with the Boscombe Spa Village project board as well as surfing and business representatives before making their recommendations this autumn.