With ice on windscreens and frost covered grass, local people may not be thinking too much about beach huts; however BCP Council is looking towards improving their provision.

The council has set out plans to simplify the service and on 14 December, Cabinet will consider a report setting out the future management of the area’s beach huts including plans to implement a simple and fair pricing structure.

The proposals will mean anyone living in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will be able to apply for a beach hut in any of the three towns (at the moment, only residents of the town can apply to be on the waiting list for beach huts within the town itself).

Cllr Mark Anderson, Cabinet Member for Environment, said; “I am pleased to bring forward proposals which will give greater choice for residents wishing to access a beach hut in the future, whilst simplifying the service.

“As many will recognise, our beach huts have had under investment for a number of years, and these plans will unleash around £4.4million of much needed investment in our beach huts and their services.

“We talked early on with key stakeholders about how we can provide a better service and we have heard a number of views raised during the evolution of these plans. I am pleased that we can show we have listened to those and addressed many of these head on.

“We know there is a substantial difference between prices across the region and want to address that so that we have a simple and fair pricing system. We’ve recognised that we need to introduce this system over time to reduce that immediate impact and give people the opportunity to plan ahead.”

As part of the proposals the council plans to maintain restrictions on joining waiting lists for those who live outside of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Representatives of the beach hut associations have also been invited to share a list of maintenance items which will be considered as part of the new management plans.