And so the cycles on the seafront have, thankfully, been banished for a couple of months.

However, a more insidious yet static obstacle replaces them: encroachment by beach hut users! A stroll along Southbourne Prom the other day found tables, chairs, sun loungers, coolboxes, blankets, lilos, bicycles, canoes on trolleys, and paddling pools.

Paddling pools? By the seaside?

What is wrong with these people? There was goodness knows what else reducing the width of the prom by half in some stretches.

These beach hut users may be putting much-needed coins into the council’s coffers, but something must be done to prevent them taking over what should be areas dedicated to pedestrians!

Unless, of course, in another display of political correctness gone mad, it would be an infringement on the beach-hut users’ human rights!

JP Blaireau, address supplied, Southbourne