A CONTROVERSIAL jettygate at Mudeford sandbank has been re-installed after it was thrown into the sea at the beginning of last month.

Despite ongoing concerns over the decision to erect a gate on the pontoon and proposals for a task and finish group to look at whether the process to install it was ‘correct and properly transparent’, the jettygate has now been replaced.

A spokesperson for Christchurch council said: “As reported when the gate was removed, due to the ongoing safety concerns, there was never any intention other than to replace this at the earliest opportunity.

“The replacement has some amendment to the design to make it more resilient and to allow wheelchairs and push chairs to get through more easily.

As discussed at a recent policy and resources committee, there are proposals for a task and finish Group to look at the health and safety aspects of access to Mudeford sandbank and making improvements for the benefit of all users.”

However, the re-instalment of the jettygate has not been welcomed by members of the Mudeford Sandbank Beach Hut Association.

Chairman Steve Barratt said the overall feeling of the group was that the jettygate was “operationally doomed”.

“I find it astonishing that common sense has failed to make any impact on the council officers who seem intent on spending more council tax money on a doomed venture, while the scrutiny committee are still debating its future.”

He added: “This is adding fuel to the fire of discontent, and I will be expecting disciplinary action against the council officers concerned if, as expected, the concept of the gate is proven to be flawed.”