A heated debate at BCP Council's meeting last night resulted a motion being past to allow SOBO Beach to remain open for another eleven months. A heated debate at BCP Council's meeting last night resulted a motion being past to allow SOBO Beach to remain open for another eleven months. The amendment was proposed by BCP Council leader Councillor Millie Earl and seconded by Councillor Bernadette Nanovo during the full council meeting, giving the Southbourne seafront business more time before a new operator takes over.Councillors also backed a 20 year lease for another operator following a compet
A heated debate at BCP Council's meeting last night resulted a motion being past to allow SOBO Beach to remain open for another eleven months.The amendment was proposed by BCP Council leader Councillor Millie Earl and seconded by Councillor Bernadette Nanovo during the full council meeting, giving the Southbourne seafront business more time before a new operator takes over.
Councillors also backed a 20 year lease for another operator following a competitive tender, so the agreement does not reverse the decision to award the longer tenancy elsewhere, but is designed to support a smoother changeover.
Many different opinions on the situation were shared, and even a counter-amendment was motioned.
The vote followed a petition signed by more than 10,000 people, with campaigners seeking to protect public toilets, accessible facilities and community activities at the venue, while asking for greater scrutiny of the council's tender decision.
SOBO Beach had faced the expiry of its current lease on 31 October, while the proposed successor was due to have access from December and would still need to satisfy planning and licensing requirements before developing the site.
Before the meeting, the independent Save SOBO Beach campaign said it was "not asking for a predetermined winner", while Councillor Richard Herrett had said it was "not in anyone's interest" for the premises to remain vacant.
At the end of the long meeting, 32 councillors voted in favour, 17 councillors were against whilst 11 abstained.
