A GROUP of annual beach hut renters above Bistro on the Beach in Southbourne have started a petition after being notified that their license will be revoked at the end of the summer.

BCP Council's overall vision for the site, which would involve replacing the current huts with overnight rentals available to hire on a day rate, were backed by councillors last summer.

Annual renter Sara Hutton said: “They just seem to be quite happy to take money for people renting them, without doing repairs, when we couldn’t even use them over lockdown and then say thanks very much for your 13 years of rentals, off you go.

“These super huts are going to be overnight stay ones and I’ve heard rumours that they’re going to be £150-a-night rentals through the council, we pay £1,680 each year.

“At the moment, the waiting lists are shut so we can’t even get on them and they’re taking the huts away.”

The current tenants would like BCP Council to consider temporarily opening Southbourne waiting list for those who are losing their annual rent agreements above Bistro on the Beach and “would welcome some communication from the council as to what their plans are”.

The group says the council are not responding to e-mails despite them still paying rent on the current huts.

Concerns have been raised by some Southbourne residents that they could be priced out by overnight rentals and that they will encourage more tourists in the area, increasing congestion at the beaches and parking facilities.

An email seen by the Echo from the council to one of the tenants said: “Works to demolish the current structure could take place as early as September/October 2021, subject to agreements with the restaurant tenant, and complete by late spring 2023.

“We realise that this news will be extremely upsetting for you and your family and friends who may have used the beach hut for many years.

“Unfortunately, though, it is not viable for us to maintain the current huts due to the condition of the main building below.

“Nor is it viable for us to replace the current facility like-for-like due to the fact that any replacement facilities have to be funded from loans which would be paid back via a significant uplift in income generated from the site.”

A council spokesman said: “Once we have finalised the plans for this development, we will be in a position to discuss possible alternative future arrangements with all tenants and will aim for these discussions to take place at the earliest opportunity. We thank everyone for their patience.”

In May of this year, BCP Council said its aim was to submit a planning application in the summer for works to commence winter 2021.