BEACH huts tenants in Poole who are outraged about proposed new restrictions to their tenancies, will be able to tell the council exactly what they think.

Borough of Poole has launched six weeks’ public consultation on unpopular plans to restrict tenancies to five or 10 years.

In response irate residents formed the Poole Beach Huts Association and 142 people turned up to their inaugural meeting.

Chairman Bob Lister said if they had not raised the matter at cabinet in December, “it would have been a done deal, without any public consultation”.

He added: “PBHA welcomes the public consultation questionnaire which has been sent out to beach hut tenants and the waiting list of 339 people.”

He urged people to read it carefully and reply to the council before the deadline of April 30. He said: “PBHA’s solution to the aims of BoP to reduce the waiting list and increase income is simple, build more huts.

“There are 200-plus possible empty locations for new huts.”

Many residents have had their beach huts for decades and resent the idea of having to give them up – however they would be able to retain them until December 2025.

There are currently 339 people on the closed waiting list and it could be 10 years before some get a beach hut. “We are asking the community to help us take things forward,” said Cllr Judy Butt, portfolio holder for communities, public engagement and participation.

“A lot of people think, I have my beach hut and I’m entitled to it for life,” said Cllr Butt. “They are actually entitled for a year.”

“Our aim is to reduce the waiting list so you don’t have to wait so long to get a beach hut,” said Clive Smith, head of leisure services.

“We want to build more beach huts. That would help but wouldn’t fix it on its own. We have just built 22 more. Not everyone wants one for long term, a week in the summer is more achievable to most people.”

Waiting list was closed back in 2007

Poole has 1,061 beach huts along its beaches.

There are 114 at Hamworthy Park and four at Branksome Chine Beach where tenants own their huts and pay the council for the site – these are not affected.

A cross-party beach hut working party suggested increasing turnover to reduce the waiting time for a hut.

The waiting list was closed in 2007 and 962 huts are let to Poole residents using an ongoing annual licence agreement.

Between 40 and 60 huts become available each year and 52 were allocated to new tenants on the waiting list in January.

Borough of Poole also has 94 short-term lets and an additional five huts are let to groups.