RELENTLESS unauthorised use of Mudeford sandbank's pontoon led to the council installing the controversial 'prison gate'.

The continuing saga is due to be heard at Christchurch council's community services committee next week, with members recommended to accept the jetty gate's installation, after "education and persuasion" failed.

Officers decided to install the gate due to 'escalating health and safety problems', a report says.

The decision, which was made under delegated powers, has sparked outrage from angry beach hut owners.

In the report, the council say there has been "a steady increase" in unauthorised use of the ferry pontoon by increasingly larger public vessels.

The pontoon is for the use of the ferry only, the report states, but over the years has been used more and more by members of the public.

Photos taken by the council, public and the ferry operators, highlights the "dangerous occurrences", the report states.

These include young children with no lifejackets being handed over the railings, fuel containers on the pontoon and people climbing on and off the jetty while others were queuing for the ferry, the report says.

Last year's summer proved to be "one of the worst on record" with 52 reports, compared to just six the previous year - although in 2012/13, 40 reports were recorded by the council.

And information has also been received about verbal abuse and threatening behaviour from members of the public, when confronted about using the pontoon.

A sign asking people to use the pontoon correctly, was also vandalised in 2014, just weeks after being put up.

The decision was made under delegated powers by the head of community services, Judith Plumley, after discussion with Cllr Sally Derham-Wilkes, Cllr Bernie Davis and the ward members, who include Cllr Ray Nottage.

Due process was followed, with independent legal advice sought as well, the council has confirmed.

Responding to criticisms about the impact the gate makes on the surroundings, the report adds: "Given that the gate is erected on an existing man-made structure and constructed from galvanised metal and wire which blends with the colour of the sky...the impact is considered to be relatively minimal."

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 12 at 6pm.