Resorts in line for new beach chalets to boost council income

Plans for the new chalets in Scarborough, Whitby and Filey could go before Scarborough Council as early as next month, according to the authority’s tourism chief.

Brian Bennett, head of tourism and culture, said: “What we have done is tried to find out if anybody is interested in managing and running our beach chalet service.

“We have had a response and considered them as a result of that consultation.

“We are now looking at further options in relation to the council’s beach huts. The options will be put to our councillors for them to consider and make a decision on the way forward.”

Mr Bennett said the council may choose to develop the service itself or bring in help from outside parties.

“We either do it or we follow an invest to save initiative where we make funds available for the provision of new huts to improve existing huts,” he said.

“If we provide new huts we are going to get more money coming in, or we might decide to go back to companies that expressed an interest and continue further negotiations.”

Mr Bennett said suitable sites would first need to be identified and the chalets would have to undergo a planning process.

He said: “We are looking at three main resorts but it’s going to be subject to identifying suitable locations and then the practicalities of provision on these locations as parts of coastline are difficult to access.

“We are quite confident that there is demand there. We know that from the long waiting list of people wishing to acquire beach huts.

“It will cost money to provide the chalets but we are confident we can get a good rent from them that will provide much needed income for the council.

“We can do that directly or working with an external body to make that pay, but either way the council will look at the cost generated and the financial budget make arrangements which will reduce pressure on budget.”

The news comes following the council’s controversial decision to sell the long-term leases of 136 huts in Scarborough’s North Bay.

It is a move that has come under fire from holidaymakers and local families who rent the huts after it emerged the owners planned to sell off 60 chalets and significantly increase letting fees next year.

A letter which was sent by PRH Construction Services, on behalf of Ryedale Estates, in April, said the chalets would be withdrawn from the rental sector and offered at a price of £36,000, while the 2012 fee for annual lets would increase significantly because of increasing operating costs.

Scarborough councillor John Ritchie, who rents a chalet, described the radical review as “outrageous” and expressed concerns that local families would be priced out.

Criticising the council’s decision to sell the leases, he said: “My understanding is that the council has given up ownership of them, so they haven’t got a say in any of this, basically. I believe they didn’t think it through.”

Scarborough Borough Council currently owns 363 chalets, including 187 in Scarborough, 140 in Whitby and 36 in Filey. They are available as annual, weekly and daily lets.

Mr Bennett said it was highly likely that the council would retain freehold ownership of the existing sites and any new sites.