Artwork to stay on beach where two youngsters drowned until Wednesday

An artwork will remain in place close to where two young people drowned in the sea.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council initially said on Friday (29 September) that it would remove the Portal installation from Bournemouth beach.

It follows a complaint from the mother of 17-year-old Joe Abbess from Southampton, who alongside 12-year-old Sunnah Khan from High Wycombe, died in the water on 31 May.

Vanessa Abbess said the 15 metre-high mirrored archway's location was "disrespectful."

"The 'Portal of Hope' was badly located and thoughtless," she said, "as it frames the area of sea where our son Joe and Sunnah Khan got into difficulties."

"This is not a suitable area to celebrate the sea or to place a tourist attraction."

But on Friday evening, the Council reversed their decision to remove it after speaking with both victim's families.

In a joint statement with Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival, they said the artwork would remain in place until the festival finishes on Wednesday.

The statement said: "We remain deeply sorry for the upset the positioning of this installation has caused and apologise once again for any further distress experienced by the families of Joe Abbess and Sunnah Khan.

"After speaking with the families, it has been agreed that the installation will remain on Bournemouth Beach as planned. As a mark of respect, the audio and lighting of Portal was switched off on Friday night."

The statement also addressed comments by BCP Council chief executive Graham Farrant, whom apologised to the families for a "crass mistake" in installing the work.

"With respect to the artist, Lucid Creates, BCP Council feel it is important to clarify that a previous statement using the word 'crass' was in reference to the location of the artwork and not the installation itself and we apologise for any confusion."

Mrs Abbess had criticised BCP Council for not adjusting the artwork's location in the 17 weeks since her son's death.

Mr Farrant said the council would conduct an internal review to avoid a repeat.

An inquest has been opened into the deaths of the two youngsters and is expected to be held in full in September 2024.