CONCERNS have been raised over safety at Mudeford Sandbank after damage to the gate at Hengistbury Head restricted access.

Beach hut owners in the area are calling for an additional jetty, with the current one - a private facility for use by Mudeford Ferry - inaccessible due to a locked stainless steal gate.

The electrical gate at Hengistbury Head, which is the emergency access route to the sandbank, was damaged on the evening of Friday July 15 and subsequently padlocked with a Land Rover parked in front preventing access - the gate was fixed on Tuesday July 18.

However, Steven Barratt, chairman of Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Association, argues the gate on the jetty and coded gate at Hengistbury Head is leaving beach hut owners in a vulnerable position.

"Now they are locking the jetty gate is a big problem because we have no means of getting an injured, sick or infirm person away from the beach by boat," Mr Barratt said.

"This is putting lives at risk and those responsible at Christchurch Council need to provide a safe landing place as they do on Mudeford Quay.

"In any event the gate should not be locked at night when those on the beach are most vulnerable.

"I maintain that Christchurch Council should remove the restrictions on the existing jetty until they can provide one for public landing which was under investigation following the deliberations of the scrutiny committee last year."

Mr Barratt highlighted an occasion earlier this month when emergency services did not have the code to open the gate at Hengistbury Head, but fortunately a member of staff from the Beach House café arrived at the gate and allowed the ambulance through to attend a 10-month-old baby with breathing difficulties on the sandbank.

The baby recovered after treatment, however Mr Barratt admitted it is only a matter of time before a serious incident takes place.

In response to concerns over safety and calls for an additional jetty at the sandbank, Matti Raudsepp, strategic director at Christchurch and East Dorset Councils, said: “Emergency services all have access keys and codes to gates at the vehicular entrance at Hengistbury Head and we are not aware of any issues they have experienced with access.

"During an emergency incident, access to Mudeford Sandbank by emergency vehicles is obtained using the Hengistbury Head gate as the jetty does not provide a practical point of access for emergency response.

"We have offered to facilitate the creation of a private jetty for beach hut owners should this be an avenue they wish to pursue, but the jetty used by the ferry operator will continue to be locked in order to manage public safety and ensure the effective operation of the ferry service."