THE majority of beachfront barbecues bought by the council are yet to be installed.

BCP Council revealed it is yet to install 17 of the 27 beachfront barbecues they bought earlier this year, of which their approved budget for purchase, installation and utility supply was £350,000.

The barbecues, supplied by Greenplate, cost £6,400 each and require a 16-amp electrical supply.

As a result, just 10 are currently installed - including at Fisherman’s Walk, Branksome Chine and close to Bournemouth Pier - further sites have been identified along the seafront but have been discounted due to the lack of power in the areas.

A separate project by the local authority is looking into the feasibility of installing three-phase power along the length of the promenade.

The cost of installing power at each of the identified sites is in the region of £10-£15,000 per site.

Bournemouth Echo: BCP Council are installing 30 free-to-use barbecues along Bournemouth and Poole seafront including Fisherman’s Walk, Branksome Chine and close to Bournemouth Pier

It is hoped that the electric barbecues will help to reduce the use of disposable alternatives that are often left in the beach, impacting the environment and posing a risk when left under the surface of the sand.

However, one group has called on the council to ensure the necessary facilities are accessible at each barbecue point before installing more.

Bob Lister, Chair of Poole Beach Huts Association said: “I don’t have a problem with the barbecues but they need to be done properly.

“They need to have a cover, access to clean water and lighting to make them used.

“People want to use them but there’s no water close by to the one at Branksome so you can’t clean it and there is no cover which means you can’t barbecue if it’s raining, which people would do if they could.

“I think people would really make a lot more use of them if they had lights too - it would be nice to be able to go down to the beach and have a night swim and a meal.”

Bournemouth Echo: BCP Council are installing 30 free-to-use barbecues along Bournemouth and Poole seafront including Fisherman’s Walk, Branksome Chine and close to Bournemouth Pier

A spokesperson for BCP Council said: “Across our seafront we aim to offer residents and visitors safer and more sustainable alternatives. Communal electric barbecues have worked successfully in other resorts and we’re glad to have already introduced free-to-use BBQs at other locations this year.

“BCP Council bought 27 electric BBQ’s earlier this year - 10 are currently operational and there are plans to install additional units during the coming winter.

“We will be reviewing the operation of this first phase of BBQ’s on an ongoing basis throughout next year to inform future decision making.”