BOURNEMOUTH seafront’s £2.4m environmental hub took in less than £150,000 during its first year. 

The hub along Durley Chine opened in February 2023 nearly a year late and includes a café and kiosk which initially sold vegetarian-only food. 

However, after feedback from hungry diners, the menu was changed to include meat.

But now an Echo FOI has revealed the hub has taken in £144,339 of revenue in its first year – which, if it was the same every year, means it would take 16 years to make up the cost to build the hub. 

The council does not hold the total profit from the eco hub.

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Meanwhile, there has been more than £28,000 paid in bills – comprising utilities of £13,774 (from February 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024) and rates of £14,471 (from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024). 

As well as this, the FOI revealed the environmental hub – which has conference rooms available to hire to educate about waste – has had no bookings in its first year. 

The FOI said: “One of our key actions this year is to determine the future use of the Durley Environmental Hub with a view to enhancing service provision, removing costs and generating additional income.” 

Read more: Vegetarian menu ditched by council after diners demand meat

Deputy council leader Millie Earl was asked why no bookings have been accepted in the hub’s first year of operation. She said the authority is working to develop a plan for the “efficient use of the room space”. 

Bournemouth Echo: Millie EarlMillie Earl

She added: “This aim must be sustainable over the long-term and needs to be cost-effective for the council at this uncertain time, when it is vital to prioritise spending on the most vulnerable in our community. 

“The long-term aim for the hub remains to develop the venue into an education space for residents, visitors, schools and families to drive a step change in behaviour and build environmental guardianship of our coastline.” 

Another purpose of the hub is to store some of the 2,000 tonnes of waste the council’s seafront team collect each year, mostly during the summer. 

In its first year, the hub has held 46 tonnes of contaminated sand and 52.8 tonnes of general waste. 

Cllr Earl pointed out the £2.4m hub was funded by the government and the grant is non-repayable, awarded to BCP Council as part of a scheme to improve coastlines. 

The profit from the kiosk is put back into the seafront services and maintenance. 

The hub, which has won a sustainability prize, was built with 45 tonnes of old seaside groynes collected from the Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme and wood from a German shipyard. 

One side of the hub’s roof has been planted with plants matching those growing on the cliffs behind, while the low-lighting design accommodates bats. 

Solar panels overlay the rest of the building, drawing power from the sun which helps to create a zero-carbon environment. Any excess energy can be fed back into the mains grid.