Dorset residents angry over TV show's beach hut competition
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Version 0 of 1. They are a traditional emblem of the British seaside but plans to build innovative beach huts designed by viewers of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces on an unspoilt stretch of Dorset coastline have infuriated local people. Twelve winners of a competition run by the Channel 4 programme will be given £8,000 each by the local council to build their huts at Highcliffe, despite the fragile cliffs being designated a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). Residents accused Christchurch borough council of being “star-struck” and have launched a petition against “a ruinous use of a rare natural beach”. “Just to get some publicity for a TV programme that is here today, gone tomorrow, we’re getting our cliff-top ruined,” said Highcliffe resident Josephine Pollen. “The council have been absolutely blinded by the fact that we are going to be on telly.” The competition is open to anyone, and the huts will be built this summer and rented out by the council to holidaymakers. “They are supposed to be beach huts but they will be halfway up the cliff. We could end up with Barbie-pink or Darth Vader huts,” said Pollen. “I feel very sad that the wild coastline is going to be destroyed – there is not a lot left and people like this particular area because it’s so natural.” The huts will not require planning permission under “permitted development” rules which allow garden sheds but the council does require the permission of watchdog Natural England for construction on an SSSI. Development would not normally be permitted if the cliffs were protected for flora or ground-nesting birds, but Highcliffe is an SSSI for its geological value and beach huts would not impact upon these features. A spokesperson for Natural England said: “Whilst we’re comfortable with the idea of the development going ahead, we’re still in quite early stages of discussions with the council.” Matt Reeks, community and open spaces manager for the council, said the “phenomenal” beach huts were “the beginning of a journey”. “This is a really exciting new way of improving our assets,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to do something a little bit out of the ordinary.” The huts will be available for overnight stays – raising further local concerns about sanitation. Reeks said the huts would be situated close to public toilets. “We’re being creative, we’re being innovative and we’re getting 12 bespoke beach huts for £100,000. It doesn’t get any better than that,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation.” The council will have the final say in approving the designs, and Reeks said the winning huts would be scrutinised by structural engineers to ensure they won’t “fall over”. Claims that councillors were starstruck were “ridiculous”, said Reeks. “If George Clarke and Channel 4 weren’t involved we’d be paying £50,000 for a hut, not £8,000. Two million viewers of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces are going to hear about Highcliffe. Where else can we get marketing like that?” Will Daws, managing director of Plum Pictures, which makes the programme, promised “absolutely no Darth Vaders and no pink Wendy house huts at all”. “When the huts are up there proudly on the cliff it should bring joy to people in the area,” he said. “We’re not looking to impose very modern designs on an unwelcoming public. It’s a beautiful part of the country and hopefully our involvement will lead to a lot of positive publicity for the area.” |