IT’S not exactly the glorious sea view that Gillian Vincent has become accustomed to as a beach hut owner for more than 50 years.

Five decades of sunbathing and friendly chat with passers-by have come to an abrupt end thanks to Bournemouth council’s relocation of more than a dozen huts.

Furious owners in the Manor Steps area are demanding action after being told of plans to place more huts between them and the beach.

They claim their views of the sea, beach and prom will be completely blocked and that the council has not consulted them on the plans.

Mrs Vincent has now joined forces with other concerned owners to campaign against the move.

“What’s the point of owning a beach hut if all you can see is the back of another hut? We won’t be able to see a thing, not even to keep an eye on children on the beach,” she said.

The huts are near to the new overnight stay huts and Bournemouth council has notified the owners of 14 huts that numbers 717-730 will be placed in front of them from the end of this month.

The council said the move is necessary to allow for the creation of a turning circle for the newly-routed land train.

Mrs Vincent, 79, said: “The land train hasn’t run along this stretch of the beach for years so I can only assume they’re bringing it back to get people to their new overnight huts.

“One hut was placed in front of mine in September and I was told, in writing, that it was for temporary storage and that it would be removed in January. Now we’ve been told it’s staying and that 13 others are coming with it.”

Mrs Vincent, who lives in nearby Manor Road, added: “We pay £1,094 a year to have a beach hut here. They haven’t even offered us a discount but it’s not a discount we want - we want them to change their minds.”

She said some of the affected huts are owned by families with young children and added: “They usually keep an eye on the children from their huts - they won’t be able to see them at all.

“I know a lot of people at the beach and they always say hello to me - they won’t even know I’m here now. I’m also going to be sitting in the shade, looking at the back of a hut instead of sitting in the sun enjoying the view.”

A Bournemouth Council spokesman said: “As part of the development of the new Bournemouth beach lodges at Manor Steps, a site has been identified to create a turning circle for the land train, primarily to create a transport link with our current land train routes on the seafront.

“This location will require the relocation of some beach huts, and whilst this will impact some existing beach hut users, it is the only viable option.

“We are working with beach hut tenants on site and the Bournemouth Beach Hut Association to minimise the impact of these changes where possible.”