Campaigners to challenge council on TV beach huts - as major doubt hangs over project

As well as presenting their petition to members, campaigners from the Friends of Highcliffe Beaches and Cliffs, will ask questions about the council's dealing of the matter.

They include whether the council considers they have shown openness and transparency in its dealings, how the council plans to maintain the protected land, queries over planning permission and questions over the lack of consultation.

A separate question will ask if the council thinks residents should have been consulted over the £130k committed to the project.

Tonight's questions come ahead of a scrutiny committee next Monday, where members will discuss the formation of a group to review the decision making process of the much-criticised project.

A report to the committee recommends a group consisting of chairman of scrutiny, Cllr Colin Jamieson, deputy, Cllr Lesley Dedman and chief executive David McIntosh is formed to review the project.

A report will be brought back to the committee at a later date.

It will look at the decision making process, information provided to committees and council, cost implications and the scope of the agreement between production company Plum Pictures and the council.

But before the investigation has even begun, the council says some information will remain exempt.

The report says: "Due to the commercial nature of parts of the review, it is anticipated that the report will contain both public and exempt elements. 

"Where possible information will be put into the public domain but it is important to note now that some of the committees considerations will have to be made in exempt session."

Last week the council withdrew their plans from Natural England for the 12 overnight beach retreats.

No new application has been submitted for day huts, a concession the council are looking at in a bid to scale down the scheme.

It is the latest twist in the ongoing quest by the council to build the contentious structures as part of a competition with Plum Pictures, who produce George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for the proposal to be abandoned. It will be presented at tonight’s full council meeting.

Last week the council were forced to deny a second application had been put into Natural England for day huts rather than overnight huts.

This was despite Christchurch MP Chris Chope being told by leader of the council, Ray Nottage that the council had put in a fresh application.

And in June, the Daily Echo revealed the authority were investigating whether they could amend the agreement or pull out of the competition entirely.

Louise Miller, strategic director at Christchurch council, said: “No decision has yet been taken on how this project will proceed.

“Councillors have asked that further information be obtained in order to change to day huts.

“Should we decide to continue the project with huts for day use then we would need to submit another application to Natural England. We will let the Echo know if this happens.”

The decision on whether to submit a second application for day huts is likely to rest on whether it fits with timetable requirements and the ability to rerun part of the competition, the Daily Echo understands.

Mr Chope, who was told about the withdrawal of the application by Cllr Nottage last week, said: “I don’t understand why the council haven’t made this public immediately.

“They could be so straightforward about it. They need to take the public with them.”

Josephine Pollen, speaking on behalf of the Friends of Highcliffe Beaches and Cliffs, said: “On the one hand we are happy to hear the application has been withdrawn but we are also very concerned about what will happen next as we could still end up with a multitude of day huts if another application is submitted.”