WAITING lists for beach huts have reopened for the first time in seven years.

BCP Council has opened the lists to give residents the opportunity to apply to rent a beach hut in Bournemouth this summer.

The town was the first in the UK to have purpose-built beach huts and waiting lists for the huts have been historically oversubscribed.

To manage the high demand, the Bournemouth lists were closed in 2017.

Now, as numbers on the waiting lists have reduced, the council is looking to reopen eight of the lists in Bournemouth.

The opening of the lists will be staggered over a few weeks and each list will be capped at 500 applications, to manage volume, with updated terms and conditions to create a more consistent system.

Applicants can choose to join any of the 15 lists between Bournemouth and Poole.

Anthony Rogers, BCP Council’s head of seafront services, said: “We are pleased to be reopening the beach hut waiting lists in Bournemouth for the first time in seven years.

“Our new management system aims to ensure an enhanced and consistent service for all residents.”

It costs £50 to join a list, and health requirements, such as mobility issues, will be taken into account when huts are allocated.

For more information and how to join the lists, visit the beach hut page on the BCP Council website.

Poole beach hut waiting lists are already open. Christchurch beach huts are sold on the open market. 

The waiting list opening dates and times are:

  • Tuesday 9 July - Bournemouth East and Bournemouth West
  • Thursday 11 July - Boscombe East and Boscombe West
  • Tuesday 16 July - Alum Chine and Durley Chine
  • Thursday 18 - Fisherman’s Walk and Southbourne