BOURNEMOUTH beach will host a bonfire at the end of the month. 

Organisers of the annual Arts by the Sea will burn its centerpiece display The Honey Pot, made of metal and placed on the sand, for four days. 

And then on the final night (September 29) wooden pallets will be lowered into the display and burnt in a bonfire, marking the end of the festival. 

Cllr Jo Clements told the eastern planning committee that she “loves” the honeycomb display and finds it “fabulous and eye-catching", but she didn’t understand the bonfire. 

She said: “Why do we have to pollute the atmosphere and environment with horrible smoke that to me seems an unnecessary thing to do?” 

(Image: Pyrite Creative)

Cllr Felicity Rice thought the same: “I was thinking about the amount of air pollution that the air show creates, and we probably didn’t have any assessment of that either.” 

She wanted to know if any assessment had been done in regard to air pollution from the bonfire. 

Steve Davies, BCP Council’s planning officer, said: “The applicant has said that they are using sustainable wood, recycled wood. 

“On Bonfire Night, it’s something that happens fairly regularly.” 

He added: “[The organisers] will ensure people are there on site to make sure that there is no anti-social behaviour. 

“I’m sure it will be a very well managed project and won’t just be leaving pallets lying around for people to set fire to. 

“As soon as the bonfire has gone out everything will be removed from the site.” 

Cllr Gillian Martin added: “It’s a shame it’s a bit further down the beach, not everybody has the time to walk down the beach, but never mind.” 

Five councillors voted in favour of the display and its bonfire, enough to give it the green light to be installed. 

Tor Byrnes, creative director at Arts by the Sea, said the bonfire symbolises "the rich tradition of fireside storytelling in the south west of England, where communities gather to share stories and mark the change of seasons”. 

She added: "The Honey Pot will celebrate the transition from summer to autumn, inviting attendees to reflect on the natural and cultural shifts that this time of year brings.”