Legal challenge pauses SOBO beach deal

A legal challenge has paused BCP Council’s proposed 20 year concession for Southbourne Promenade in Bournemouth.

SOBO Beach’s existing operators have started court proceedings over the council’s award of the contract, which has triggered a statutory suspension under the Procurement Act 2023 and stops the council entering the agreement while it remains in force.

The Save SOBO Beach campaign welcomed the move, but said wider questions about financial checks, public consultation, potential conflicts of interest and the information given to councillors still need answers.

Campaign representative Dan Astin Gregory said the court action was “an important step” towards independent examination of the tender process, and the campaign says more than 10,800 people have signed its petition.

Full Council agreed on 13 October to refer the procurement to its Audit and Governance Committee for independent review, and an additional committee meeting is scheduled for 26 November, according to the campaign.

Mr Astin Gregory said litigation should be respected, but “should not mean” every wider accountability question is put on hold while the campaign is consulting solicitors over a possible separate judicial review, although no separate proceedings have begun.