Affordable beach hut bid in Southwold
WHILE the need for affordable homes grows, one of Suffolk's most upmarket seaside resorts is tackling a similar issue of its own - the need for affordable beach huts.
WHILE the need for affordable homes grows, one of Suffolk's most upmarket seaside resorts is tackling a similar issue of its own - the need for affordable beach huts.
The prestigious huts that line Southwold's promenade have been known to sell for as much as £40,000 - but now there is a planning application which could make the dream of owning such a hut a reality for more people.
A proposal has been submitted for 18 picnic huts at the Boating Lake and if given the go ahead, they would be hired out to lake-users.
It has been put forward by Paul Jackson, of Bungay, who said there was a great need for them.
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Southwold town councillors recommended the planning application for refusal at their meeting on Tuesday saying they liked the idea but thought 18 huts would be too many.
Teresa Baggott, town mayor, said: “I like the idea of these but I think he's proposed too many and they should be in smaller groups.”
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Mr Jackson wants to set the picnic huts out in three groups - two groups of five and another of eight.
They would be located at the boating lake near the model yacht pond and would all be 2.4m tall, 1.8m wide and have a depth of 2.4m. Their backs would face the car park and they will face onto the lake.
Cllr Susan Doy said: “I think this is quite a good idea because we are so short of the ones on the promenade.
“Also people who cannot afford the promenade ones would be able to hire out one of these at presumably an affordable, daily rate.”
Deputy Mayor Michael Ladd added: “We need to support businesses down there and I think these huts would be nice and would add character to the area if they are nicely coloured.”
Some councillors expressed concern about whether or not the huts would affect wind conditions on the lake.
They agreed 10 would be a more suitable number and hope Mr Jackson will come back with a revised application.
