Council apologises for ‘crass’ art installation at spot where two children, 17 and 12, drowned after their grieving families complained it was ‘unsuitable’ due to ‘tragic circumstances’
- Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, drowned on May 31 this year
A council has today apologised for a ‘crass’ art installation at the spot where two children, age 12 and 17 drowned, after it sparked complaints from their grieving families.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has agreed to remove the £32,000 tax-payer funded ‘Portal of Hope’, just two days after it was installed, from the beach near Bournemouth Pier where the pair died on May 31.
Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, drowned and eight other people were treated by paramedics after they were suspected to have been caught in a riptide next to the pier at the Dorset seaside resort.
The move to dismantle the 15 metre-high mirrored archway follows a complaint by Vanessa Abbess, Joe’s mother, who described it as ‘disrespectful’.
She said in a statement: ‘As a family, we were shocked and astounded to see news reports of the disrespectful ‘Arts by the Sea’ installation at the Bournemouth beach yesterday.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has agreed to remove the £32,000 tax-payer funded ‘Portal of Hope’ installation from the beach near Bournemouth Pier where the pair died on May 31
Joe Abbess, 17, and Sunnah Khan, 12, drowned on May 31 near Bournemouth Pier
‘The ‘Portal of Hope’ was badly located and thoughtless, as it frames the area of sea where our son Joe and Sunnah Khan got into difficulties.
‘In addition, it is sited on the area of beach where emergency services cared for all casualties on May 31 and the tragic circumstances unfolded. This is not a suitable area to celebrate the sea or to place a tourist attraction.
‘We emailed BCP Council, as owners of the beach, to express our distress and upset yesterday evening.
‘We fully appreciate that this project may have been planned for many months, but due to the tragic circumstances and ongoing inquest, we feel this (is) entirely unsuitable and plans could have been easily adjusted in the last 17 weeks.
‘Last night, Graham Farrant (council chief executive) confirmed the installation would be immediately shut down/relocated.
‘We are grateful that BCP Council have acted so quickly, but feel with a little consideration and respect to Joe, Sunnah and both families, this could have been avoided.’
The children drowned and eight other people were treated by paramedics after they were suspected to have been caught in a riptide next to the pier at the Dorset seaside resort
Stephanie Williams of her with her daughter Sunnah Khan who died swimming next to Bournemouth pier
The archway was designed by London art studio Lucide Creates who said it allowed visitors to ‘experience a memerising and ethereal display’.
Arts by the Sea, a Bournemouth arts festival which attracts 120,000 visitors a year, is funded by the Arts Council England and BCP Council.
Mr Farrant said the installation was being removed and apologised to the families.
He said: ‘We are deeply sorry for such a crass mistake which clearly should never have happened.
‘We have extended an unreserved apology to the families for causing further upset at what is undoubtedly already a distressing time.
An inquest has been opened into the deaths of the two youngsters and is expected to be held in full in September 2024.
Taxpayers had previously criticised the public-funded art installation as being a waste of money that could be better spent of things like fixing potholes.
Abalina Lane said: ‘Who paid for this and where was the public consultation? Even if this is from another pot of money surely it could be put to better use.People are homeless and hungry for god’s sake.’
Carole Wakeman said: ‘What a waste of money when everyone else is cutting back Bournemouth splashes out on non essentials.’
Chris Martin added: ‘Another waste of our Council tax for this over priced rubbish. Is not even gonna last for very long.
‘Meanwhile many shops having to close due to council over pried rents!’
Removing the Portal of Hope exquates to 10 per cent of the overall £302,760 Arts by the Sea festival budget, whose funding is evenly split between the local authority and Arts Council England.
Last November, it was agreed that the cash-strapped council’s debt threshold be lifted to £1.334bn.
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