Axed Mudeford watersports firm Shoresports has tender renewed by BCP Council after public outcry

A WATERSPORTS operator which lost its contract to continue operating in Mudeford has now had its tender renewed by BCP Council after a public outcry.

As reported in the A&T last year, Kathryn and Nick May said their firm Shoresports would be left "literally high and dry" with nowhere to go after another group was chosen to pick up the contract from April.

Mr May said losing the tender was "a big blow", and that the new provider would be offering a "significant reduction" in activities compared with those he had run.

Shoresports, which has operated from Mudeford for 11 years, offers sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, kayaking and raft-building.

Mr May previously told the A&T he hoped to also introduce wing foiling this year.

The news was met with public outcry, and an online petition to reinstate the organisation gathered more than 3,000 signatures.

Concerns were also raised by the commodore of Highcliffe Sailing Club over the lack of support for sailing in Christchurch harbour, Mr May said.

But BCP Council has now U-turned on the decision, saying Shoresports' tender bid was the most "economically advantageous" when evaluated against price and quality.

A post on the Shoresports Facebook page said: "We are excited to announce that following the resubmission of our tender BCP Council has decided to renew our contract for three years.

"We are thrilled to be able to welcome back all our customers and look forward to meeting many more. We will continue to offer a wide provision of watersports to all. We'd like to thank you all for your help and support."

A BCP Council spokesperson told the A&T: "As a local government organisation we are held to a high standard in terms of procuring any supplier and we are committed to ensuring we meet these expectations.

"We listened to the concerns raised during the initial procurement, and whilst the process was delivered in line with the financial regulations we recognised we could have been clearer with the scoring methodology.

"To reassure ourselves and those who previously bid for the contract we reopened the tender opportunity and invited both bidders to resubmit using the improved documentation.

"We have worked constructively with the bidders and, following this exercise, we have appointed Shoresports as the preferred bidder.

"Their bid was the most economically advantageous bid evaluated against price and quality."