Plans to develop more beach huts by Arun District Council have been delayed due to a lack of consultation.
The plans were heard by the council’s economy committee at its meeting on Tuesday, April 16, with six potential locations for new beach huts identified by council officers to go out to public consultation.
Members deferred plans for public consultation, approving officers to conduct market research on the viability of the locations chosen, as well as to consult parish councils and ward members for the areas on the plans before they next appear before the committee.
These locations were between Gloucester Road and Longbrook Park to the rear of Bognor Regis promenade, Longbrook Park, Overstrand Avenue greensward, South Strand shingle beach, South Kingston shingle beach and greensward, and Ferring Rife to Sea Lane greensward.
Committee members raised concerns about the lack of consultation with parish and ward councillors in determining the long list of potential locations before it goes out to the public.
Opposition Leader Shaun Gunner (Con, Rustington East) said the council is ‘crap’ at consulting with ward members on issues, saying the parish councils need to be consulted before public consultation.
He further criticised the traffic light system to determine suitable locations for new huts, saying it made ‘no sense’, adding some of the location choices were ‘peculiar’.
Leader of the Council Matt Stanley (LDem, Marine) said it was probably a ‘step too far’ to consult the public before parish and ward councillors.
Interim Council CEO Karl Roberts said they were planning to consult parish and ward councillors as part of the public consultation, and were not trying to leave them out of the process.
Freddie Tandy (Lab, Courtwick with Toddington) said the council is ‘missing out’ on the chance to short-term rent out new beach huts, instead of giving them to those on waiting lists.
He said most people on the lists are likely over 40 and of a ‘certain’ income level, saying the opportunity to rent would open the huts up to everyone, including tourists, and that it could help pay off the council’s investment in the huts quicker.
Council officers said this would likely incur higher day-to-day costs to the council, due to the increased maintenance costs and officer hours spent on the scheme.
According to the council’s website, around three to four beach huts from a total of 92 become available a year to lease on an annual basis, with over 300 people currently on the waiting list – which has been closed from high demand.
Claire Marie Needs (LDem, Beach) raised concerns around wheelchair access to the new huts, saying the lack of parking provision in plans and no mention of wheelchair ramps could prohibit wheelchair users from using the huts.
Other members also raised concerns about parking for new huts, asking if West Sussex County Council would be involved, which officers said they would be.
