BEACH hut owners have hit back at the council’s plans to increase the cost to rent beach huts in the conurbation. 

As reported, beach hutters face seeing charges go up between 10 and 26 per cent for 2023/24, which could deliver the council a net of £309k next year and £5.56m across the next five years. 

A group of people gathered at Branksome beach on Sunday, January 1 to protest the proposal, saying the beach huts, which could be increased by as much as 26 per cent in Mudeford, are being treated as a “cash cow” for the BCP Council. 

Bob Lister, at the protest, suggested the money generated from the price rises would be used by the council to “recover lost money” from “disastrous deals”, including the due diligence costs for Barclays House and SPV. 

Bournemouth Echo:

Read more: BCP Council agree to increase beach hut fees despite opposition

“He's obviously trying to recover some of that money back, but he can't, or he doesn't want to put more than five per cent on the council tax because he'll lose votes,” he said. 

“But there is a minimum of 8,000 people who probably won't vote for Tory again and particularly for their cabinet as a result of this.” 

Two premium huts in Poole’s Shore Road could see costs go up from £5,775 to £6,350 annually. 

Bournemouth Echo:

Read more: BCP Council beach huts fees see increases across the board

Mr Lister added: “We are being asked to pay for the maintenance of the sea front, such as the toilets, the promenade, as well as the day trippers and tourists, we have to pay for that as well.” 

Cllr Mark Anderson, portfolio holder for environment and place, said the “simple pricing system” will give “greater choice” to residents wishing to access a hut in the future. 

He added: “They also ensure we only allow residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to join waiting lists to hire our beach huts; a rule which previously did not exist. 

Read more: Beach hut groups slam BCP Council's proposed fee increase

“Until now there has been a substantial difference in beach hut pricing across BCP which needs addressing to ensure fairness across the three towns, but we recognise these plans need to be introduced over time to reduce that immediate impact and give people the opportunity to plan ahead. 

“Our beach huts have had under investment for a number of years, and these plans will mean around £4.4million of much needed investment goes into our beach huts and their services.”