We don't want beach huts in Shoebury, say campaigners

8:00am Friday 14th December 2012 in Local News

The proposed beach huts The proposed beach huts

CAMPAIGNERS have renewed their bid to stop new beach huts being built.

Anne Chalk, an Independent councillor for Shoebury, is spearheading the attempt to block Southend Council’s plans to build up to 16 new huts on Shoebury’s East Beach.

The council claims the facilities are “hugely sought after” among residents and visitors to the town.

But Mrs Chalk said there was no room on the beach to accommodate them and argued neighbours had not been adequately consulted.

She said: “This has just been pushed through, regardless of people’s opinions.

“We must protect the beach for the general community.

“There has been no effort to really find out what the people who live here think about this - it’s just been shoved through.”

The Echo revealed council chiefs were drawing up plans for the new huts earlier this year.

Ms Chalk campaigned at the time to torpedo the plans, but bosses announced last week they had chosen architectural firm Pedder and Scampton to design the facilities.

The authority hopes they will be finished by spring next year. Each hut will have two folding glazed doors, a solid panel for changing behind and two coloured “over panels” to be bolted shut when the huts are not being used.

The huts will be leased to buyers, with the council retaining the freehold.

No prices have yet been announced, although bosses speculated earlier this year they could cost about £25,000 each.

Andrew Moring, the Tory councillor responsible for support services, insisted there had been a public demand for the new huts.

He added: “Beach huts are a very well-loved traditional feature of Southend, and are a wonderful seaside facility.

“There are currently 500 in the borough and we are delighted to be able to introduce these new ones which will blend in beautifully with our existing range.

“They are to be built on a site where beach huts formerly stood, but from where they were removed some years ago.

“They are such hugely sought-after leisure features that we feel sure these new beach huts will prove extremely popular.”

Comments (15)

8:22am Fri 14 Dec 12

Nebs says...

They will have great views of the airport that will be built in the estuary.
They will have great views of the airport that will be built in the estuary. Nebs

8:51am Fri 14 Dec 12

echoforum says...

Nebs wrote:
They will have great views of the airport that will be built in the estuary.
Sorry!
They won't be there long enough.
Vandalism is already a big problem with beach huts and this plan to site them in probably the worst place conceivable will lead to a lot of sleepless nights for those with £25k to blow on a wooden shed.
The night timer nutters will relish the chance to trash these huts out of sight and away from the public gaze....insanity!!!!
[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: They will have great views of the airport that will be built in the estuary.[/p][/quote]Sorry! They won't be there long enough. Vandalism is already a big problem with beach huts and this plan to site them in probably the worst place conceivable will lead to a lot of sleepless nights for those with £25k to blow on a wooden shed. The night timer nutters will relish the chance to trash these huts out of sight and away from the public gaze....insanity!!!! echoforum

9:01am Fri 14 Dec 12

openspace says...

echoforum wrote:
Nebs wrote:
They will have great views of the airport that will be built in the estuary.
Sorry!
They won't be there long enough.
Vandalism is already a big problem with beach huts and this plan to site them in probably the worst place conceivable will lead to a lot of sleepless nights for those with £25k to blow on a wooden shed.
The night timer nutters will relish the chance to trash these huts out of sight and away from the public gaze....insanity!!!!
I too have mixed feelings about these huts but do not have strong views either way. However, I would question the use of the word "neighbours" in the report about the protest. What "neighbours" would these be exactly, I thought the huts would be a long way from any local residents !!!!.
[quote][p][bold]echoforum[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: They will have great views of the airport that will be built in the estuary.[/p][/quote]Sorry! They won't be there long enough. Vandalism is already a big problem with beach huts and this plan to site them in probably the worst place conceivable will lead to a lot of sleepless nights for those with £25k to blow on a wooden shed. The night timer nutters will relish the chance to trash these huts out of sight and away from the public gaze....insanity!!!![/p][/quote]I too have mixed feelings about these huts but do not have strong views either way. However, I would question the use of the word "neighbours" in the report about the protest. What "neighbours" would these be exactly, I thought the huts would be a long way from any local residents !!!!. openspace

9:45am Fri 14 Dec 12

Russ13 says...

I believe they will be sited in the same location that the previous beach huts were located?

This is yet another example of locals with nothing better to do with their time than start a campaign against something that won't affect them in the slightest!
I believe they will be sited in the same location that the previous beach huts were located? This is yet another example of locals with nothing better to do with their time than start a campaign against something that won't affect them in the slightest! Russ13

11:51am Fri 14 Dec 12

BD says...

the only person who seems to be bothered by this is Ms Chalk.. As I understand it they're to be sited on the 'concrete wall' part of the beach so not really on the beack at all and on part of the front that is less used..

The negihbours won't even see them, and how they can complain about planning when one of them built a lift up the side of their property despite planning being refused I really dont know.

However they won't last long, the tops of hte huts will be just in range for the local 'yoof' to practice jumping on, so not long before someone falls through the roof or just sets fire to them as they do in thorpe bay...

Nice idea just not gonig to last long.
the only person who seems to be bothered by this is Ms Chalk.. As I understand it they're to be sited on the 'concrete wall' part of the beach so not really on the beack at all and on part of the front that is less used.. The negihbours won't even see them, and how they can complain about planning when one of them built a lift up the side of their property despite planning being refused I really dont know. However they won't last long, the tops of hte huts will be just in range for the local 'yoof' to practice jumping on, so not long before someone falls through the roof or just sets fire to them as they do in thorpe bay... Nice idea just not gonig to last long. BD

11:56am Fri 14 Dec 12

Shoebury_Cyclist says...

I don't see a problem, there used to be beach huts in this location in the 60s:

http://www.francisfr
ith.com/shoeburyness
/photos/east-beach-c
1960_s275069/
I don't see a problem, there used to be beach huts in this location in the 60s: http://www.francisfr ith.com/shoeburyness /photos/east-beach-c 1960_s275069/ Shoebury_Cyclist

1:02pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Seasider90 says...

Why on earth would anyone want a beach hut in one big dog toilet? Amazes me how Southend Borough Council environmental health are happy for East Beach to be a continual use dog toilet for most of the year and yet happy to let families with young kiddies play on the same ground in summer. It should be renamed dog poo park. I've been a regular visitor and dog owners seem to think they dont have to pick it up as its a beach as very few do. The most disgusting place in Shoebury. Good luck to any idiot wanting to have a beach hut there.
Why on earth would anyone want a beach hut in one big dog toilet? Amazes me how Southend Borough Council environmental health are happy for East Beach to be a continual use dog toilet for most of the year and yet happy to let families with young kiddies play on the same ground in summer. It should be renamed dog poo park. I've been a regular visitor and dog owners seem to think they dont have to pick it up as its a beach as very few do. The most disgusting place in Shoebury. Good luck to any idiot wanting to have a beach hut there. Seasider90

1:28pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Cockle says...

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
I don't see a problem, there used to be beach huts in this location in the 60s:

http://www.francisfr

ith.com/shoeburyness

/photos/east-beach-c

1960_s275069/
Yes, remember them well from back in my childhood.

IIRC quite a few were vandalised, even back then, fell into disrepair and, I think, were eventually either washed away in a violent storm or were so damaged that the Foreshore Department had to remove them.

Not quite sure how SBC are going to divert the forces of Nature from doing the same again, perhaps they know a trick that good old King Cnut didn't.
[quote][p][bold]Shoebury_Cyclist[/bold] wrote: I don't see a problem, there used to be beach huts in this location in the 60s: http://www.francisfr ith.com/shoeburyness /photos/east-beach-c 1960_s275069/[/p][/quote]Yes, remember them well from back in my childhood. IIRC quite a few were vandalised, even back then, fell into disrepair and, I think, were eventually either washed away in a violent storm or were so damaged that the Foreshore Department had to remove them. Not quite sure how SBC are going to divert the forces of Nature from doing the same again, perhaps they know a trick that good old King Cnut didn't. Cockle

1:33pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Eric Whim says...

We don't want beach huts in Shoebury, say campaigners


don't buy one in Shoebury then.
[quote]We don't want beach huts in Shoebury, say campaigners[/quote] don't buy one in Shoebury then. Eric Whim

3:29pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Max Impact says...

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
I don't see a problem, there used to be beach huts in this location in the 60s:

http://www.francisfr

ith.com/shoeburyness

/photos/east-beach-c

1960_s275069/
STOP PRESS:

Southend-on-Sea was in a state of utter shock this afternoon after Shoebury_Cyclist & his arch rival set aside their diffrences and actually agreed that beach huts planned for Shoebury were a good thing, this went against many many years of the two bickering and fighting each other on the Echo Comments page over virtually every story published on the website.

Readers can be reassured normal services will return in probabky the very next story, probably about SUFC stadium and not wanting to pay £6m for the right to build!
[quote][p][bold]Shoebury_Cyclist[/bold] wrote: I don't see a problem, there used to be beach huts in this location in the 60s: http://www.francisfr ith.com/shoeburyness /photos/east-beach-c 1960_s275069/[/p][/quote]STOP PRESS: Southend-on-Sea was in a state of utter shock this afternoon after Shoebury_Cyclist & his arch rival set aside their diffrences and actually agreed that beach huts planned for Shoebury were a good thing, this went against many many years of the two bickering and fighting each other on the Echo Comments page over virtually every story published on the website. Readers can be reassured normal services will return in probabky the very next story, probably about SUFC stadium and not wanting to pay £6m for the right to build! Max Impact

7:30pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Shoebury Man says...

As a 'neighbour' to the beach I think they're a great idea. That part of the beach needs to be improved and won't cause any nuisance to beach users as most people use other part. Well done SC!
As a 'neighbour' to the beach I think they're a great idea. That part of the beach needs to be improved and won't cause any nuisance to beach users as most people use other part. Well done SC! Shoebury Man

7:52pm Fri 14 Dec 12

Max Impact says...

The part they are to be built sits much lower than the houses so they are NOT going to destroy the view, they will be built on the upper section of the two concrete platforms so will NOT take any of the beach away, the lower of the two concrete platforms will be totally clear for people to walk along still.
The part they are to be built sits much lower than the houses so they are NOT going to destroy the view, they will be built on the upper section of the two concrete platforms so will NOT take any of the beach away, the lower of the two concrete platforms will be totally clear for people to walk along still. Max Impact

8:10pm Fri 14 Dec 12

siddymint says...

Strange that no one has asked why there are not any beach huts there now. .
If anyone did, would they still want a beach hut there?
Strange that no one has asked why there are not any beach huts there now. . If anyone did, would they still want a beach hut there? siddymint

11:14am Sat 15 Dec 12

Nebs says...

Couldn't they be built a bit more sturdy, insulated and connected to the mains, and then just leased out for 8 months of the year. Then during the winter they could be used by the homeless as a shelter from the cold.
Couldn't they be built a bit more sturdy, insulated and connected to the mains, and then just leased out for 8 months of the year. Then during the winter they could be used by the homeless as a shelter from the cold. Nebs

1:46pm Sat 15 Dec 12

Carnabackable says...

Nebs wrote:
Couldn't they be built a bit more sturdy, insulated and connected to the mains, and then just leased out for 8 months of the year. Then during the winter they could be used by the homeless as a shelter from the cold.
I think they have done that already on Canvey Island, it's known as Thorney Bay...
[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: Couldn't they be built a bit more sturdy, insulated and connected to the mains, and then just leased out for 8 months of the year. Then during the winter they could be used by the homeless as a shelter from the cold.[/p][/quote]I think they have done that already on Canvey Island, it's known as Thorney Bay... Carnabackable

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