Bournemouth’s Daily Echo have obtained email records under the Freedom of Information Act, which appear to suggest that a water park is a frontrunner for the waterfront IMAX site.

The records show that a company called Moirai Capital Investments approached Bournemouth council last May with the idea of opening an indoor surfing centre in the controversial seafront building.

Following a meeting with the council, architects’ plans were submitted for an attraction described as “a combination of covered slides, freeform pools, water activities, indoor surfing and high-quality relaxation areas.”

Council leader Stephen MacLoughlin confirmed that an indoor surfing facility is one of the many options currently being analysed for the IMAX site. Results of the public consultation will be released later this month.

He added:

The public consultation process will feed in to how we take our ideas for the Imax site forward. This particular organisation (Moirai) may or may not feature in the next steps.

They certainly don’t have any preferential inside track with the council. We’re determined to get the best possible deal for the town, both in terms of the functions that will happen on that site but also in terms of the design of the building.

The Boscombe Spa Village regeneration scheme has won a top national award, celebrating the success of the council’s regeneration goals.

The award was announced by the Local Government Chronicle Awards in recognition of the multimillion-pound redevelopment which includes the restored pier, improved public open space, restored Victorian Gardens, beach pods, restaurants, shops, a surf school and the artificial surf reef.

This is the second national award presented to Bournemouth Council in recent weeks. Boscombe Pier was recently voted the National Piers Society’s ‘Pier of the Year 2010′.

Since completion, the regeneration scheme has created 91 new long term jobs. Visitor numbers have increased by 32 per cent and incidents of anti-social behaviour down 40 per cent.

Leader of the council Stephen MacLoughlin congratulated all involved in the regeneration, saying:

I don’t believe we would have won this award without the support of local entrepreneurs who have believed and invested in the seafront.

Anyone who has been to the pier, gardens, prom or Overstrand in the last six months will have seen the changes and felt the amazing unique vibe that is now Boscombe seafront.

Local businesses in Boscombe Spa have organised a ‘Celebration Day’ to mark the completion of the seafront regeneration. The event will take place on Saturday 24 April, 11am – 4pm, and activities include surf lessons, paddle boarding, kite surfing, beach volleyball, a sandcastle competition and street entertainers.

For more information, call the Bournemouth Seafront Information Centre on 01202 451781.