A NEW seaside kiosk will be built in Southbourne to replace a former deteriorating facility.

Work was carried out at Fisherman’s Walk on Friday to remove the ice cream kiosk adjacent to the cliff lift and zig zag walk.

A new, more contemporary structure resembling other kiosks at Pier Approach and Undercliff Drive is due to open in the Easter holidays.

The facility, which will be run by the council’s seafront services catering team, will serve cold and cooked food, trading between 9.30am and 6pm during the summer season and autumn and spring weekends. It will be closed during the winter.

As part of the work to construct the new kiosk, the existing concrete apron will be repaired, and the coping stones and railings replaced. The kiosk will be relocated slightly to allow for a larger seating area.

Councillor Lawrence Williams, portfolio holder for tourism, leisure and the arts, said: “We have removed the old ice cream kiosk at Fisherman’s Walk in readiness of the arrival of a new kiosk. We are looking forward to this being installed over the coming weeks and open in the Easter holidays.”

Prior to the application for the new kiosk being approved, it was confirmed the works would not involve any intrusion into or towards the base of the cliff.

Approving the plans, the tourism officer said the new facility would improve the “quality and range” of the catering offer at the beach, replacing an existing “poor quality structure”.

“A revitalised catering offer at Fisherman’s Walk will complement the beach offer at this blue flag award-winning beach, which includes the beach office, cliff lift, beach huts, and seasonal lifeguarding facilities,” he added.