Bournemouth council accused of ‘casino capitalism’ over beach hut sale

Holidaymakers are worried about plans by council bosses to cash in by selling the huts - to boost their budget with a 54m windfall

The multicoloured wooden beach huts lining the golden sands of Bournemouth and Poole were in full use once again this weekend as adults basked in deckchairs and children built sandcastles.

These simple structures on this famous stretch of the Dorset coastline are highly sought-after, with typical waiting times for a long-term rental ranging from five to 20 years. However, some users are now worried about plans by council bosses to cash in on the huts by selling them to a special purpose vehicle" (SPV) to boost their budget with a 54m windfall.