Last summer, in a break between lockdowns, overcrowding on local beaches reached such a crisis point that BCP Council declared a major incident.

This prompted the Council to launch the Beach Check app which is to be rolled out nationally to support other towns and cities with crowd management on their beaches.

Cllr Philip Broadhead, portfolio holder for Regeneration, Economy and Strategic Planning and deputy leader, BCP Council, said, “We are delighted that our pioneering efforts in digital technology are contributing to our country’s efforts to tackle some of the key issues faced beyond the pandemic, in particular the use of technology to address urban challenges such as overcrowding.

“Our Beach Check app was born from our exciting Smart Place ecosystem, a programme that sets us apart, and firmly cements our reputation as leaders in innovative technology.”

The BCP Council Beach Check app gives residents and visitors real-time updates on the crowding status of local beaches in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Downloaded by nearly 40,000 people last year, the app played a key role in helping people plan their visit to the region, as well as provide the council and partners with data to manage the resort.

Its success attracted interest from other local authorities and coastal destination management organisations, as well as VisitBritain, who are now asking to roll out the product and service in their areas.

As a priority the council will launch the Beach Check App again locally this spring before being developed and introduced to other towns and cities.

Cllr Mohan Iyengar, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, said, “We are preparing for a good many visitors this summer as lockdown is eased and people can travel. The app will be valuable, helping people to make good choices about where to be – avoiding the busiest spots, staying distanced and being safe. The future looks particularly good once we can use the app to potentially signpost people to different events and attractions in our Festival Coast Live! based on inputs they have made.”