Surf's not up for Newquay as reef plan flops
Guardian Unlimited
'Protest by rowers and fishermen forces shelving of artificial barrier.
Newquay on an overcast summer's day. A stag party in search of a hangover cure hires surfboards and trots down to the chilly water. They enjoy their splash around but the waves are not strong enough to provide real thrills and they are soon back on the beach, towelling themselves down before heading for the pub to warm up.
The resort in north Cornwall styles itself the UK's surf capital but the waves are often disappointing and when they are good the sea can be packed.
So the idea of building an artificial reef off one of the town's beaches seemed an ideal solution. A reef would, it was hoped, create more and better waves, possibly the best in Europe.
But Newquay's artificial reef seems dead in the water today after a groundswell of opposition from the local rowing club and fishermen who are stridently against tampering with nature's ebb and flow...'