'Pathetic' South West beach huts with no view of the sea lie dormant

Cornwall beach huts built for a substantial £125,000 have yet to see a single renter or generate any income. The timber structures, situated close to Par Sands beach near St Austell, were constructed six years prior amidst local scepticism regarding their economic viability.

Back then, Jordan Rowse, the Cornwall councillor representing Par and St Blazey, proclaimed there was "overwhelming support" for the project, which was envisioned as part of the wider regeneration efforts for Par Beach, promising availability for public rental and community use.

Controversy surrounded the significant expenditure on the beach huts and their location—a spot behind the beach dunes near a public toilet block without a direct view of the sea. Fast forward half a decade later, following a Freedom of Information (FoI) Act request, it's been disclosed that these huts have generated an income of precisely £0, as CornwallLive reports.

Despite having a list of potential renters, the council has not managed to appoint someone to oversee the renting process. They seemingly haven't considered direct management of the properties either, which could begin attracting earnings from those interested in renting.

In 2017, many locals expressed that they "loved the nostalgia" of the beach hut plans, but there was a general consensus that the funds could be better utilised elsewhere. Some suggested that the money should be allocated towards beach cleaning and seaweed removal, as large amounts frequently wash up along the shoreline.

Cornwall Council revealed that the total expenditure on the project has reached £124,567 so far. In response to a Freedom of Information request, it stated: "The huts at Par have not been let out to date and have provided no revenue income."

At one stage, the smaller huts (150cm x 180cm) were available for an annual fee of £900, while the larger ones (240cm x 180cm) would cost £1,100 to rent per year.

The current rental cost is unknown. "The beach hut installation was finalised in 2019, meaning that the first year they were available for operation was 2020, which was affected by the lockdowns of the Covid pandemic, and they were not let out for that reason," the council continued in its response.

"Since then, Cornwall Council has run three open tender rounds with an aim to secure a managing tenant, the latest in Spring 2024 and seeks to run another open round of tenders in advance of the 2025 season."

It added that without a managing tenant, the huts cannot be rented out. One local resident labelled them a "white elephant", criticising their size as impractical.

"As it stands, a total waste of money," she commented.

One local resident expressed their frustration, saying: "I think most of us are far too apathetic. Sadly the results are exactly as expected. Another total waste of money, not researched beforehand and displaying a total lack of knowledge of the beach itself. In a word, pathetic."

"Beach huts, not on the beach, can't see the sea or the kids playing and no facilities, otherwise perfect," another resident commented wryly.

One suggestion for improving the situation came from another member of the community, who proposed, "Make it a little destination for local crafts, ice cream hut, mini museum, beach art etc. It would need all the huts to be occupied to make it work and worthwhile visiting, but it would be lovely for a summer season."

In light of the underwhelming performance of the beach huts, Cornwall Council has made plans for another round of open tenders to secure a managing tenant before the 2025 summer season kicks in. Speaking on the issue, a spokesperson for Cornwall Council outlined their dedication to finding a solution: "Since the Par Beach huts were installed we have actively sought a tenant to manage this unique venue through annual open tender rounds."

Additionally, they added, "The next tender window will be over the winter with the aim to have the beach huts operational for the 2025 summer season."

Emphasising on the attractiveness of the site, the spokesperson said: "With the beach and dunes a designated Local Nature Reserve and improvements to the cycle track between Par and the beach, the huts present a fantastic local business opportunity along a busy thoroughfare for residents and visitors.

"We will be holding public engagement events and other promotional activities to raise awareness of this unique opportunity. We are especially keen to see innovative and socially enterprising tenders come forward."

"Anyone who has a business idea and might be interested in running the beach huts can express an interest with us estatesdelivery@cornwall.gov.uk and we will send them a tender pack when it is available."