Two new licences allowing restaurants to serve alcohol and events to be held two sites along Bournemouth beach were approved on Tuesday. 

They were two out of five separate licence applications lodged, seeking permission for a wide range of events to be held and food and drink served along much of the Bournemouth seafront this summer. 

Here's what we know so far. 

What's happened so far?

Councillors have approved two new licences allowing restaurants to serve alcohol and events to be held at sites in East Cliff and near the Toft zig zag.

Committee members agreed unanimously to grant both licences, with the addition of a further condition limiting the number of events that can be held at each site to five per year.

Alongside these, the council has also proposed revisions to existing licences for the beach at the West Cliff wedding area, to the east of Boscombe Pier and around Bournemouth Pier.

The council said the five licences would “enable outdoor pop-up catering sites” to be opened “across the seafront”.

Do people support the scheme?

Concerns have been raised by dozens of people living along the Bournemouth seafront that the council’s plans will lead to issues of disorder.

Alan Dove, the chairman of Bournemouth Townwatch, said the sale of alcohol would lead to issues of anti-social behaviour and crime across the area as experienced last year.

Mr Dove said previously: “The scale and size of the proposed premises, in the hundreds even with social distancing in place, will place significant additional alcohol consumption directly onto the beaches."

However, Andy Lennox, the founder of hospitality association, the Wonky Table, said: “I’m fully supportive of controlled, well-managed local operators bringing a bit of the south of France or Spain to the town.”

What do other people think?

Hundreds of Echo readers have had their say on the plans since the plans were unveiled with many in support and others raising concerns over litter and the impact it might have on anti-social behaviour. 

What has Dorset Police said?

Dorset Police had originally objected to the applications but changed its position after 24 conditions to the licence were agreed with the council.

These include extra training for restaurant staff and limits of the number of people allowed on each site.

At Tuesday's meeting, police licensing sergeant Gareth Gosling said it was expected the restaurants will lead to a "minimal" increase in crime and disorder but that it would be "closely monitored".

Sergeant Gosling said dozens of conditions agreed with BCP Council would leave things “in very good stead”.

What will the restaurants be like?

BCP council has already put contracts for the sites out for tender, advertising most of them for use for "high quality" restaurants from mid-May through until late September.

The council said it was looking to “animate the seafront with stylish restaurants".

Its contract description says: “The council is looking for fresh and unique restaurant offerings to facilitate the additional tourist footfall expected for 2021."