Beach hut owners in Mudeford and at Hengistbury Head are facing higher council tax bills after BCP Council confirmed plans to remove an existing discount.
The council announced on January 6th that more than 340 beach huts will be reclassified as Class A second homes from April one this year, ending a fifty per cent council tax discount that had previously applied at both locations.
Mudeford Sandbanks Beach Hut Association said it is disappointed hut owners have been targeted and confirmed it is exploring the legal basis for the change, warning that long standing local owners now face a significant financial burden on top of rising annual licence fees.
The council said the decision is part of efforts to use all available options to raise funds to protect essential services, arguing that beach huts place additional demands on services such as beach cleaning and flood protection which are largely funded by residents.
MSBHA chair Darren Pidwell said there has been little recent investment in facilities at Mudeford, adding that owners would expect some of the additional revenue raised to be reinvested locally rather than it feeling like all take and no give.
Councillor Toby Slade has also called for clarity, asking for written confirmation of the legal basis for removing the discount, the planning restrictions being relied upon, and details of how the new council tax charge will be applied from April.
Plans to end the council tax discount are due to be discussed on January 14th.
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