Campaign against Shoebury beach huts plan

8:43am Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in Southend

Hut concerns – councillor Anne Chalk Hut concerns – councillor Anne Chalk

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop beach huts being built in Shoebury.

Southend Council has earmarked £120,000 to build 20 traditional wooden huts on the Rampart Terrace section of East Beach.

The council hopes to sell them off, making an estimated £20,000 profit on each.

However, Anne Chalk, Independent Shoebury councillor, and some residents are now putting together a petition opposing the plans.

The main reason for objecting is the loss of space on an already crowded beach.

Mrs Chalk also believes the huts could result in increased vandalism and would not benefit the wider Shoebury community.

She said: “We have already lost a section of the beach to waterskiing and a huge car park.

“I’m not against beach huts, I just don’t think this is the right place.

“East Beach is very idyllic and we don’t want it to end up like Southend, where it is much more commercial.

“It’s a nice little place and it should be kept that way. This is just a money-making scheme.”

Shoebury Residents Association member David Schindler, 36, of George Street, agrees with the petition, but fears it will prove futile.

He said: “A petition is just a tactic that is used to distract people from being vocal.

“If you put it all on paper, then it can just get thrown away and forgotten.

“Ultimately I think the beach huts will get vandalised to such a degree no-one will actually want them.”

Tory councillor Roger Hadley devised the idea as a way to boost the Southend Council budget. He believes the huts will be a welcome addition to East Beach and could be sold at a tidy profit, making the council about £400,000 in total.

He said: “About a year ago, we were looking for money and we looked at East Beach, where years ago there were beach huts.

“Shoebury has had a lot of money from the council, including £6.5million for the new Hinguar School, so it is only fair the money raised from the sale of these huts is used throughout the borough.”

Huts were a fixture of East Beach in the Fifties and Sixties, but they had to be knocked down after falling into a state of disrepair.

Comments (11)

10:37am Wed 23 May 12

Criticalfriend says...

As I understod it the beach huts are only going on the concrete area at the bottom of Rampart Terrace, where they were in the 60's. There are no plans to put any on the green openspace area.
As I understod it the beach huts are only going on the concrete area at the bottom of Rampart Terrace, where they were in the 60's. There are no plans to put any on the green openspace area. Criticalfriend

11:00am Wed 23 May 12

ccd says...

There always used to be beach huts there and everyone got on just fine. Seems a non issue to me.
There always used to be beach huts there and everyone got on just fine. Seems a non issue to me. ccd

11:01am Wed 23 May 12

Lefty Cyclist Type says...

Roger Hadley said:

“Shoebury has had a lot of money from the council, including £6.5million for the new Hinguar School, so it is only fair the money raised from the sale of these huts is used throughout the borough.”

The Council has had a lot of council tax from the residents of Shoebury, so it is only fair Southend's tories keep their grasping hands off our beaches, the only unspoiled beaches in the Southend Borough.

They've already ruined the peace of Shoebury Common beach by letting the yobs on jetskis use it. Half of East Beach has been given over to kite and wind-surfers, even though they are a minority yet the beach is paid for by ALL Shoebury's council tax payers.

Southend's tories let Gunners Park be destroyed by developers, and in return we got a scruffy little piece of land by the sea wall which is dominated by an open drain euphemistically called a 'pond'.

Now they want to steal East Beach from Shoebury's council tax payers and hand it over to the wealthy who can afford to waste £30,000+ on a shed.
Roger Hadley said: “Shoebury has had a lot of money from the council, including £6.5million for the new Hinguar School, so it is only fair the money raised from the sale of these huts is used throughout the borough.” The Council has had a lot of council tax from the residents of Shoebury, so it is only fair Southend's tories keep their grasping hands off our beaches, the only unspoiled beaches in the Southend Borough. They've already ruined the peace of Shoebury Common beach by letting the yobs on jetskis use it. Half of East Beach has been given over to kite and wind-surfers, even though they are a minority yet the beach is paid for by ALL Shoebury's council tax payers. Southend's tories let Gunners Park be destroyed by developers, and in return we got a scruffy little piece of land by the sea wall which is dominated by an open drain euphemistically called a 'pond'. Now they want to steal East Beach from Shoebury's council tax payers and hand it over to the wealthy who can afford to waste £30,000+ on a shed. Lefty Cyclist Type

11:18am Wed 23 May 12

drofmor1 says...

the trouble with beach hut owners is they seem to think they own all the land between their hut and the seashore. The last time I walked along by Uncle Toms along the sea wall there was barely any room to walk as the owners had practically built front gardens across the pavement. Even worse the ones at Thorpe Bay. Woe betide anyone who dares to set up anywhere near the steps of their huts.Please none of this on the East Beach. Yes there used to be huts on the East Beach but that was at a time when people were less selfish and probably would not have taken over the whole beach area as their "right" to do so as they purchased a beach hut. Where can I sign the petition?
the trouble with beach hut owners is they seem to think they own all the land between their hut and the seashore. The last time I walked along by Uncle Toms along the sea wall there was barely any room to walk as the owners had practically built front gardens across the pavement. Even worse the ones at Thorpe Bay. Woe betide anyone who dares to set up anywhere near the steps of their huts.Please none of this on the East Beach. Yes there used to be huts on the East Beach but that was at a time when people were less selfish and probably would not have taken over the whole beach area as their "right" to do so as they purchased a beach hut. Where can I sign the petition? drofmor1

12:11pm Wed 23 May 12

Lefty Cyclist Type says...

drofmor1 wrote:
the trouble with beach hut owners is they seem to think they own all the land between their hut and the seashore. The last time I walked along by Uncle Toms along the sea wall there was barely any room to walk as the owners had practically built front gardens across the pavement. Even worse the ones at Thorpe Bay. Woe betide anyone who dares to set up anywhere near the steps of their huts.Please none of this on the East Beach. Yes there used to be huts on the East Beach but that was at a time when people were less selfish and probably would not have taken over the whole beach area as their "right" to do so as they purchased a beach hut. Where can I sign the petition?
+1.

I stopped with my nephew for a sandwich and a drink at Shoebury Common beach. We walked along the promenade and sat on the sea wall to eat and drink and enjoy the beach. Then this beach hut owner came over and said, 'Move over there you're blocking the view from my hut'. He was not too happy when I told him he owned his shed only, not the beach or the promenade, and that we would not be moving.
[quote][p][bold]drofmor1[/bold] wrote: the trouble with beach hut owners is they seem to think they own all the land between their hut and the seashore. The last time I walked along by Uncle Toms along the sea wall there was barely any room to walk as the owners had practically built front gardens across the pavement. Even worse the ones at Thorpe Bay. Woe betide anyone who dares to set up anywhere near the steps of their huts.Please none of this on the East Beach. Yes there used to be huts on the East Beach but that was at a time when people were less selfish and probably would not have taken over the whole beach area as their "right" to do so as they purchased a beach hut. Where can I sign the petition?[/p][/quote]+1. I stopped with my nephew for a sandwich and a drink at Shoebury Common beach. We walked along the promenade and sat on the sea wall to eat and drink and enjoy the beach. Then this beach hut owner came over and said, 'Move over there you're blocking the view from my hut'. He was not too happy when I told him he owned his shed only, not the beach or the promenade, and that we would not be moving. Lefty Cyclist Type

12:48pm Wed 23 May 12

nicknows says...

Nice way to raise money and will there be an annual charge to the council for the use of the huts as well?

I think it will improve the area.

There used to be huts before so it is only a somewhat late resoration of the area.
Nice way to raise money and will there be an annual charge to the council for the use of the huts as well? I think it will improve the area. There used to be huts before so it is only a somewhat late resoration of the area. nicknows

1:25pm Wed 23 May 12

My Dog is called alfie says...

About time these old **** stop complaining about everything.
Soon as something new comes along there is always some old person who finds away to complain.
About time these old **** stop complaining about everything. Soon as something new comes along there is always some old person who finds away to complain. My Dog is called alfie

2:44pm Wed 23 May 12

Red Hand Gang says...

£400,000 whats the point. That profit will get wasted in no time.

Keep the beach as it is.
£400,000 whats the point. That profit will get wasted in no time. Keep the beach as it is. Red Hand Gang

2:49pm Wed 23 May 12

Andycal 172D says...

This is the same "idyllic " little beach that's next to the gunnery range?
This is the same "idyllic " little beach that's next to the gunnery range? Andycal 172D

5:19pm Wed 23 May 12

firedog says...

The reason they fell into disrepair,was because they were
vanderlised and nobody would risk buying one,would you?
The reason they fell into disrepair,was because they were vanderlised and nobody would risk buying one,would you? firedog

8:18pm Wed 23 May 12

billericay boy says...

Southender', is she being racist saying she dont want to end up like you lot. what would she rather have beach huts or caravans along the front.
Southender', is she being racist saying she dont want to end up like you lot. what would she rather have beach huts or caravans along the front. billericay boy

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