SEEING RED OVER BLUE FLAG BEACH (From Bournemouth Echo)

SEEING RED OVER BLUE FLAG BEACH

9:00am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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CONCERN about the continuing Blue Flag status of Branksome Chine Beach and promenade, prompts me as a Poole rate payer of 25 years, to bring certain issues to attention.

Firstly, there has been a marked increase in daytime barbecues.

As a beach hut owner for 10 years, I have noticed, this year, how a few other owners have smoky barbeques, and also during the daytime smoke sometimes pours from barbecues on the beach.

Beach wardens say they are too under-staffed owing to lack of money to undertake any form of patrolling.

What happened to the extra £291 per annum all beach hut owners are now charged for business rates?

Secondly, there is the abuse by cyclists.

Since the peak season cycling ban came in on July 1 they have been dodging in and out of prominent notices prohibiting cycling.

Visitors frequently stop and enquire where the showers are, and are amazed that there are none.

The lavatories west of Branksome Chine towards Canford Cliffs are also not well indicated – in fact one notice points in the opposite direction.

Visitors are frequently confused.

Several other beach hut owners feel the same as myself – that annual rental increases, currently £943, plus the business rate of £291, do not match a corresponding increase in the services provided in this area by Poole council.

IRIS I PETERS, Branksome Park, Poole