Posted 06.09.08
Daily Record.co.uk
Sep 5 2008

Speedboat owner ordered to make lifeboat donation after drunken near miss

A DRUNKEN speedboat owner who almost rammed a lifeboat was yesterday ordered to donate £300 to the RNLI.

The Mallaig lifeboat went to rescue Robert Sutherland as he bounced over the waves on a six-mile trip from the nearby Knoydart Games.

But he refused the lifeboat's offer of help. Instead, the crew had to dodge out of the way to stop Sutherland crashing into them.

At Fort William Sheriff Court yesterday, Sutherland, 46, ofMallaig, was fined £500 and ordered to make the donation to the RNLI.

He admitted culpable and reckless conduct last August.

Posted 05.09.08
Busy summer for SOS teams
North Devon Gazette report

DESPITE poor weather keeping people off the beaches, rescue services have had a busy summer around North Devon's coast, particularly during the past six weeks.

With 60 calls for help to the end of August, Appledore lifeboat station has already nearly reached the figure for the whole of last year - and last year's 67 calls were 47 per cent up on the year before!

Ilfracombe lifeboats have had a particularly hectic last six weeks. During this period the main lifeboat has been called out seven times and the inshore boat has been out two or three times every week.

Clovelly lifeboat station reports a "steady summer" with calls on a par with other years, in part due to the weather keeping some people off the beaches - and correspondingly fewer calls to people cut off by the tide.

The Search and Rescue helicopters at Chivenor have so far this year answered 189 calls, identical to the same period last year.

RNLI lifeguards patrolling Croyde and Woolacombe beaches have, from the beginning of May until mid-August, gone to the aid 633 people on the two beaches.

They have saved one life, rescued 198 people and assisted 102 people in the water. They have also administering major first aid to 26 people and minor first aid to 207.

Appledore lifeboat spokeswoman Niki Tait said crews have responded to emergencies ranging from engine failure, potential drownings, children cut off by the tide, boats adrift or sinking, divers in trouble, ropes and fishing nets around propellers to suicide attempts. "This makes the Appledore RNLI station by far the busiest in the Bristol Channel and one of the busiest within the South West," she said.

Appledore coxswain Martin Cox said: "I don't really understand why the number of emergencies we have been asked to respond to has increased so much this year.

"The shouts have covered every type of emergency and include professional craft as well as pleasure boats.

"Please, if you are using the water, check the tides and the weather before you go, maintain your engines and take sufficient fuel, more than you think you are going to need.

"Check your moorings regularly. Wear a lifejacket. Enjoy the water, but please think safety first.

"If you are in doubt, please do not go out, or seek advice. Just pop into your nearest lifeboat station - we are here to help and prevention is better than rescue."

Ilfracombe lifeboat spokeswoman Bernice Putt said the past six weeks had been unbelievable, with the lifeboat called out for all sorts of incidents.

"We have had people cut off by the tide, swimmers in difficulty, inflatable craft blown away from the shore, small vessels broken down, and people jumping off the pier at night and being swept away," she said.

"Our message is for people to use craft that are suitable for the conditions; find out about the weather and tidal conditions - you can always ask the harbour master or at the lifeboat house; boat users ensure your vessels are well maintained and that you have the necessary safety equipment, charts and knowledge."

Chivenor's rescue helicopters have dealt with equally varied incidents - from a fisherman bitten by a shark he had hooked, to many searches for "lost" people and calls to "cliff stickers" who have tried in vain to climb the coastal cliffs to escape the tide, monitoring flood situations and, sadly, recovering bodies.

Vaughan Lawson, RNLI Area Lifeguard Manager for North Devon said: "Overall the number of beach users has been down, which is unsurprising due to the less than average summer we have had this year.

"However, there are still a lot of people using the water and the RNLI lifeguards have been as busy as ever, performing preventative actions and offering advice and information. Wetsuits are much more affordable and, therefore, accessible, most families will almost certainly have at least one between them, and watersports such as bodyboarding, surfing and kite surfing are getting more and more popular.

"The RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling Woolacombe and Croyde until the end of September. We have our fingers crossed for an Indian Summer and urge beach goers not to let their guard down and heed the safety advice from the lifeguards.

 Posted 05.09.08
Swimmer dies in hospital after dramatic rescue

Sep 4 2008 by Vince Gledhill, Evening Chronicle

FRANTIC efforts to save a stricken swimmer failed when he died in hospital.

Despite an air and sea rescue operation, nothing could be done for Andrew McKillup, 40, who got into difficulties while snorkelling off the Northumberland coast.

Today, as an investigation into the tragedy continued, it emerged Mr McKillup, from Whickham, had been snorkelling with a woman near Beadnell Harbour, Seahouses.

He got into difficulties about 100 yards out just after 7pm on Tuesday. The woman tried to help him but then decided to set out for shore to raise the alarm. They had been snorkelling in Ladies Hole, a popular spot for scuba divers. Two divers who had been on the shore went back into the water to help the woman reach safety. Another woman called 999 after hearing the snorkeller’s cries for help. Seahouses’ inshore and offshore RNLI rescue boats were launched and reached Ladies Hole in minutes.

The faster, smaller inshore boat got to Mr McKillup, who was wearing a wetsuit, first and its crew hauled him unconscious into their inflatable and began to give him the kiss of life and heart massage.

The larger, all-weather lifeboat Grace Darling reached the inshore boat shortly afterwards and its crew joined in the fight to revive him.

John Hanvey, cox of the Grace Darling, said: “The inshore lifeboat crew were able to find the man pretty quickly and as they arrived at the scene the woman who was with him had just managed to get to shore.”

The sea conditions at the time were calm and it was still daylight. A Sea King rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer was also sent to Beadnell Harbour, and within the 21 minutes winched Mr McKillup on board.

Officers continued the kiss of life and heart massage with the help of a trainee medic on board.

Mr McKillup was flown to Ashington, where a team of doctors and nurses at Wansbeck Hospital were waiting to take over as soon as the Sea King touched down.

Flight Lieutenant Charlie Logan, the aircraft’s captain for the rescue mission, said: “The man was in a bad way so we needed to pull out all the stops.”

Despite the efforts of air, sea and land rescuers, Mr McKillup died in hospital.

Mr McKillup’s swimming partner Eileen Armstrong told how she tried desperately to keep him afloat, but he was carried out of her arms by waves. She said: “We were swimming about 250 yards from the shore in wetsuits when Andrew got into difficulty breathing.

“I held his head above water while shouting and waving an arm at people on the shore.

“A swell took him out of my arms, I would never have left my friend. He was an irreplaceable, life-affirming man.”

Police are now investigating his death and preparing a report for the coroner.

Posted 05.09.08

Couples dramatic sea rescue
Shropshire Star report

A Shropshire couple were dramatically rescued from the high seas after their yacht got into difficulties. The couple, who are in their 40s live in Chester Avenue, Whitchurch.

They were thought to be travelling from the Isle of Man to Conwy when they sent out a distress signal.

Llandudno’s lifeboat crew has been commended for pulling off one of the most dangerous rescues the RNLI team has carried out in saving the couple when they got into trouble on August 26.

The couple were unharmed but shaken after their 37 foot long yacht Odyssey was tossed around in Force 8 gales off the Great Orme after heavy duty rope, anchored to the seabed, became entangled around its propeller.

Coastguards received the call and an all weather lifeboat was launched. Lifeboat crewman Tim James was hailed a hero for his part in the operation.

He dived into the sea and was in danger of being crushed by the boat as it was tossed around by 10ft waves.

But, secured by a safety harness, he managed to hack through the two inch thick rope wrapped around the propeller and steering gear.

It took the lifeboat crew over two hours to reach the stricken vessel, which was 30 miles offshore.

After the rope had been cut free, Mr James stayed aboard and helped sail the Odyssey to Conwy with the lifeboat sailing close by. 

Posted 05.09.08
BBC report

The Donaghadee lifeboat rescued the boys

Four teenagers have been rescued after their dinghies drifted out to sea while fishing off the County Down coast.

The alarm was raised at 2020 BST on Wednesday when a passerby spotted the boys were in difficulty off Skullmartin Perch near Ballywalter.

The Donaghadee lifeboat and a rescue helicopter were launched and the boys were brought to safety.

The boys had taken the boats to go fishing, but only had one small oar and an inoperable engine between the boats.

Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager Ian Murdock said it "was fortunate" a passerby noticed the boys were having difficulties.

"The occupants of the boats did not have any lifejackets or any safety equipment," he said.

"We recommend that anyone going afloat on small boats carries flares and a communication method such as hand held radio and mobile phone even for short trips as weather conditions can change rapidly.

"It is also important, of course, to carry a good set of oars and to have a working engine."                                          

Posted 04.09.08

Four are rescued in yacht drama

The yacht Steady Barker on Weymouth beach today

FOUR people had to be rescued by coastguards after their stricken yacht ran aground on Weymouth beach early today.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the vessel Steady Barker suffered engine failure in 40-knot winds near the town's harbour.

Panicked crew fired distress flares as the yacht beached after its sails ripped and its engine failed.

Eyewitness Richard Wilby watched the drama unfold from the holiday cottage he was staying in at Bowleaze Cove.

He said: "I heard it outside. I looked out the window and it was just drifting, the wind had completely taken it. "It was quite rough out there, it wasn't pretty at all. The crew shot a couple of distress flares up and I phone the coastguard immediately

The 38-foot yacht's skipper called Portland Coastguard to report the engine failure shortly after midnight. The MCA said two of the vessel's four-strong crew were suffering from seasickness in the rough conditions. Within minutes the yacht's predicament worsened as its sails ripped and its steering failed.

Portland Coastguard had alerted Weymouth RNLI lifeboats but they were unable to help because the vessel had entered shallow water off the beach. As the yacht ran aground and the distress flares were fired the incident was reported on 999 calls across Weymouth.

Wyke Regis coastguards helped the crew wade ashore as the vessel was driven up the beach. The four were uninjured and they were found overnight accommodation by their rescuers.

The MCA said the yacht was still on the beach early today, having been secured by coastguards. It is not yet known how badly it was damaged or whether it can be refloated.

The rescue came after a major search was launched to find a missing family in a sailing dinghy yesterday. The family - two parents and two children, aged four and two - had left Exmouth in choppy conditions but not returned.

They were reported missing shortly before mid-day and the Portland Coastguard rescue helicopter was alerted, along with coastguards and RNLI lifeboats. The 14-foot wayfarer dinghy was located at Lyme Regis Sailing Club and the town's harbourmaster confirmed the family were experienced sailors out for the day.

Portland Coastguard watch manager Andy Jenkins said the family arrived shortly after 3pm safe and well - unaware of the search.

He said: "When setting to sea in rough conditions, please do make sure you give details of your communications and passage plan to the coastguard.

"We can check you're OK without having to send out search and rescue resources."

Elsewhere a yacht with four people on board got stuck off Anvil Point, near Swanage.

The town's RNLI lifeboat was launched to help the Salvo, but it freed itself and continued on to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

9:29am Tuesday 2nd September 2008

Posted 03.09.80
Tourist, 22, seriously injured in cliff fall
Tuesday, September 02, 2008, 15:32 Cornwall.co.uk

A MAN is in a critical condition in hospital after plunging from a cliff above Pentewan Beach at the weekend.

The holidaymaker from Wiltshire was seen clambering up the 100ft cliff face with two friends at about 3pm on Saturday after they became cut off by the tide.

When they reached a height of about 20-feet the 22-year-old man fell to the rocks below, sustaining serious injuries.

Another holidaymaker swam around to help the man and was followed by a paramedic, who was in the area for the gig championships which were taking place, hosted by Mevagissey Gig Club.

He was unable to get around the rocks with his equipment and waited for other ambulance crew to arrive. Coastguard cliff rescue teams were also unable to climb down the cliffs to reach the stricken man

When ambulance crews arrived on the scene they formed a human chain through the water to pass across emergency equipment to help the man who had head, facial and pelvic injuries.

Relax, eat, shop at England's most popular beach resort 

Funky, fashionable and fun, Brighton is England's most popular beach resort. A hot spot since dissolute Prince Regent George IV patronized the city in the 1880s, Brighton still retains a "dirty weekend" patina. Every Friday, stupendous traffic jams of pleasure-seeking Londoners pile down for restorative seaside sojourns.

I was staying in Brighton for a month, so no jostling with the car-weary day-trippers was necessary to get my fill of sun, sea, shopping and nightlife.

My rented basement flat was a stone's throw from the pebbly beach and a stroll to Western Road's retail and restaurants. 

Just a one-hour train ride from London, Brighton attracts celebrities such as Paul McCartney, paparazzi favourites Jordan and Kelly Brook, as well as DJ Fat Boy Slim, who set up home here.

In a world that worships TV, film and music gossip, such pop patronage is as beneficial to its tourism image as the Prince Regent's Brighton escapades were in the 1880s.

Today, you can tour the photogenic palace, which also has lovely lawns for picnics plus a pretty outdoor cafe where street musicians often play.

Brighton rock -- like Graham Greene's 1938 classic novel -- is an obligatory part of the seaside experience. Rock candy shops line the esplanade, selling multicoloured sticks of jawbreaking sweets.

Kids flock, rock in hand, to Brighton's West Pier to fritter pocket money on arcade games and to ride the latest roller-coaster.

Brighton's seafront is dotted with ice-cream parlours and yellow awnings protecting patrons from the ubiquitous westerly winds. Locals rent wooden beach huts, which uniformly line the shore like paintbox colours.

Housing everything from barbecues to beach balls, I saw one being used by a zany group of cross-dressers, taking tea on fold-up chairs in a wind that threatened to blow their boas away.

Regardless of weather, the turbulent sea is decorated with hardy kite-surfers who jump, flip and outwit the waves. Novices can learn most water sports in the safer confines of Hove Lagoon.

Unable to boast white sand like its Mediterranean neighbours, Brighton beach is nevertheless packed when the sun escapes the heavy clouds. Holidaymakers rent striped deck chairs to bake in the surprisingly strong sun while quaffing beer with fish and chips and daring each other to dunk in the icy English Channel. Outdoor festivals on Hove Lawns are often sponsored by breweries -- I watched bands at the Paddle Round the Pier Festival from the Brunswick Pub's beer tent.

I walked daily along the breezy promenade, bordered by elegant, white Victorian townhouses. Emulating the flotsam and jetsam brought in by the tides, the promenade population was similarly eclectic: kids on scooters and mini motorized tractors; smooching couples; skateboarders and Rollerbladers; winos; joggers; topless bathers; scantily clad, tanned dog-walking locals next to lobster-pink, camera-toting tourists; buskers and market-stall traders. Others were playing volleyball, bowls, pitch 'n' putt and in kiddie pools.

If you want to avoid the high season crowds, take the No. 700 bus to Shoreham-By-Sea where long beaches reveal sand at low tide. We played cricket on the wet sands, swam and used boogie boards in the warm shallows and, afterwards, had a tasty dinner at the Crown & Anchor pub.

When the weather was inclement, I tackled the retail rumpus of the city centre. I had to specialize each day: high street and indoor mall when raining; the North Laines for one-off boutique shopping, vintage and bargain-hunting; and the rabbit warren lanes for upmarket designers and antique jewelry. If you wear out your shoes with all the walking, check out Vegetarian Shoes in Gardner Street.

Cafes and restaurants abound throughout Brighton and Hove, where there's usually a pub at every corner. Just on Western Street, where I stayed, there are two pubs, a liquor store, the posh Ginger Man restaurant, as well as a coffee bar and night spot called the Atlas Lounge. I lounged on their leather sofas regularly, drinking lattes over games of chess or ice-cold rosé (currently England's "in" drink) with moules marinieres by night.

Many corner pubs are morphing into gastro-pubs since the smoking ban. Not just an excuse to charge more for food, this trend is producing some top-notch eating amid contemporary decor.

Although coffee bars are ousting Brighton's quaint old-fashioned tea shops, you'll still find a few with authentic chintzy decor, tantalizing displays of cakes and real teapots. The Mock Turtle, near the Old Steine bus station, is my favourite with its succulent cream teas and massive meringues.

England's notorious sweet tooth reaches its epiphany at Choccywoccydoodah -- a shop devoted to chocolate art in Duke Street. Set among top-end designer stores, the window displays lavish edible sculptures made by graduates with fine art degrees.

The City of Brighton and Hove's calendar of events includes an annual arts and culture festival, free outdoor music events, a kite festival and a Caribbean carnival. Furthermore, Brighton has positioned itself as the gay capital of the U.K.

Brighton often hosts pre-London productions at the 200-year-old Theatre Royal. I watched Patricia Routledge in Crown Matrimonial, documenting the royalty-rocking romance between Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson. Overlooking the Royal Pavilion gardens, the

Theatre Royal is resplendent with velvet upholstery, gilded private boxes and a prestigious Royal Circle.

No visit to England is complete without a castle and Brighton's nearest one is a half-hour's drive away at Arundel. I strolled around cobbled streets peppered with Tudor buildings before visiting the charismatic castle with its musty 11th-century interior and elegant swan-filled lakes. And, of course, afterwards there's the nearby Black Rabbit for pints and a pub lunch. 

Posted 31.08.08 

Three rescued by RNLI

FIONA GARTLAND

TWO MEN and one woman were rescued from a 37-foot yacht at Ireland's Eye. The three people in their 40s had been travelling from Howth marina to Malahide marina when their vessel ran aground on a rocky outcrop at the island.

The Coastguard called the RNLI to the scene at 3am yesterday and both the Howth inshore Lifeboat and Howth's all-weather lifeboat attended.

One of the yachtsmen was taken aboard the lifeboat and then transferred to Beaumont Hospital with a suspected broken wrist.

Rupert Jeffares, Howth lifeboat operations manager, said the yacht's crew were lucky that conditions were calm overnight.

"The RNLI reminds of the dangers of recreational activities at sea and the importance of always wearing a life jacket," he said.

"This incident highlights the need for a 24-hour rescue service that the RNLI provide."

© 2008 The Irish Times

Posted 31.08.08

Posted 31.08.08 

Marine construction starts on Europe’s first artificial surf reef

First reef section at Boscombe : photo courtesy Jo Mountain

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 29 August, 2008 : - - There were cheers all round today as a landmark event successfully took place; the first section of the first artificial surf reef in the northern hemisphere slowly rolled off a barge and was laid on Boscombe seabed. 

The first section makes up one sixth of the volume of the reef and is constructed from a geo-mat*, webbing base and 16 huge geo-bags*. It has an area of 50m x 50m. The first reef section was transported on a barge from Poole to the sea-based construction site at Boscombe, Bournemouth. 

David Neilson from ASR Ltd, the Construction Manager for the Surf Reef said: “This is D-Day. We’ve been for several weeks for the winds to drop and today has provided us with the perfect conditions to accurately place the reef section on Boscombe sea-bed. After years of planning, it’s very exciting to get to this stage. If we have consistently good weather, we should get the reef completed by the end of October.”

The eastern-end of the reef was attached to five-tonne anchors on the seabed by a team of expert divers. The barge was then slowly winched along the reef site, allowing the section to gradually unfold and peel off into the water. Winches then pulled down the reef onto the seabed and SCUBA-divers secured it in place.

The reef is now ready for filling. Each of the 16 bags on reef section 1 will be filled one at a time. This takes between 1-4 hours each, depending on the size. Once this has been completed, section 2 (already built on land) will then be deployed and filled and so on, until the reef is completed when fifth section is deployed and filled.

Cllr Beverley Dunlop said: “It has taken 10 years to get to this point. This regeneration project is unique and innovative and is turning Boscombe into a fantastic place to both live and visit. The surf reef will turn Bournemouth into a water sports Mecca, as it will be a free facility to be enjoyed by surfers, snorkellers, windsurfers and divers.

To accompany the reef there will be a new seafront restaurant, café, surfing facilities and retro, super beach huts designed by HemingwayDesign. Boscombe is the place to be.”

Yarmouth Coastguard co-ordinates rescue when inflatable dingies were blown offshore 

RNLI rescue family from rock

RNLI hero braves stormy seas to rescue yacht couple

Aug 28 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

MEMBERS of Llandudno lifeboat crew have been commended after rescuing a husband and wife in icy seas in what has been described as one of the most dangerous rescues the RNLI team has carried out.

Crewman Tim James could be nominated for a bravery award while other crew members are to be commended for their role in rescuing a yacht from sinking in gale-force conditions on Tuesday.

Tim was at risk of being crushed by the 37ft long yacht Odyssey as it was being tossed around by 10ft waves whipped up by force eight winds 30 miles north of the Great Orme.

Secured by a safety harness, he hacked through a two-inch thick rope which had become tangled in the yacht’s propeller and steering gear, rendering it helpless.

“He spent one-and-a-half hours in the sea and was in constant danger of the boat crashing down on him,” explained Ray Evans, acting launching authority for Llandudno RNLI.

“With a three-metre swell the yacht was being tossed around while he was hanging off the back of it trying to cut through the rope. It was an incredibly dangerous situation.”

And Matt Crofts, RNLI deputy divisional inspector, said: “Tim entered the water in controlled conditions wearing the appropriate clothing and all the necessary safety precautions were taken.

“This does not detract from the fact this was an extremely brave act. He acted in the very finest traditions of an RNLI volunteer and should be commended for his actions.

“Freeing the vessel would by no means have been an easy task in these conditions. This was a job well done by all the crew at Llandudno.”

The all-weather lifeboat Andy Pearce, under the command of deputy second coxswain Graham Heritage, was launched at 3pm on Tuesday after coastguards received a mayday from the Odyssey crewed by a husband and wife from Whitchurch in Shropshire who were sailing from the Isle of Man to Conwy.

It took the lifeboat two-and-a-quarter hours to reach the stricken vessel. After the rope had been cut free, Tim James stayed on board the Odyssey and helped the crew sail back to Conwy with the lifeboat staying close by.

The couple on board the yacht were unharmed but the wife was said to be badly frightened by the incident.

judith.phillips

RNLI crew wins top award

ALASDAIR MCGREGOR

29 August 2008 08:31

Drama - the lifeboat in action

A lifeboat crew has received national recognition for its dramatic rescue of a stricken yacht in strong winds off Lowestoft.

Volunteers on the Spirit of Lowestoft lifeboat fought against rough seas, 50mph gusts and driving rain to save two passengers and their yacht, which was rolling heavily and left unable to steer after hitting a sandbank on July 6.

Now, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) chief executive Andrew Freemantle has recognised the Lowestoft crew for their brave actions, which ended with the yacht being towed to safety through the narrow harbour entrance.

In a letter to the crew, he said: “This difficult manoeuvre was carried out most successfully despite the strong winds, the force of the ebbing tide and driving rain.

“The seamanship, skill and teamwork demonstrated by coxswain John Fox and his crew reflects the finest traditions of the RNLI and the excellent standards of all those involved at Lowestoft lifeboat station.”

The poor weather made it extremely difficult to tow the yacht, called the Long Hope, back to the safety of the harbour and without hitting the South Pier.

Richard Musgrove, lifeboat operations' manager at Lowestoft, said: “Such letters are not routine and, in it, Mr Freemantle details the professional seamanship and teamwork displayed by the coxswain and crew during this rescue.

Award for the brave crew of Lowestoft lifeboat

“Such an award is some recognition for the many hours of dedication and training by our volunteer crew, under the leadership of the coxswain, John Fox.”

It has been a busy time for the Lowestoft lifeboat, with 15 call-outs since July 1. It means the crew has already been called out 23 times during this year, compared to a total of 28 during the whole of 2007.

Spokesman Mike Richford said there was no pattern to explain the high number of recent incidents, which included call-outs to several yachts and swimmers in trouble, but stressed the 16-strong volunteer crew was well-equipped to cope.

To find out how to make a donation to the RNLI, visit its website via www.EDP24.co.uk/dailylinks.

 

 Lucky escape by crew; rescued as boat headed towards beach

Aug 27 2008 by Robin Turner, Western Mail

IT’S not what you’d expect to see on one of Wales’ most famous beaches on a late summer afternoon.

This is the Bruno of Sutton – a 50ft-long fishing boat which was towed back to sea yesterday after beaching on the Gower beauty spot of Rhossili.

The ship, skippered by Donald MacKenzie, had sailed from Biddiford in Devon across the Bristol Channel in search of whelks.

It was anchored in sheltered water to the west of Worm’s Head on Monday night but during the early hours of yesterday she slipped anchor and the high tide carried the boat towards the beach.

Four fishermen on board were taken off the vessel by a lifeboat crew.

The Bruno came to rest only 300 yards from the wreck of the Helvetia, which came to grief in 1887 in similar circumstances.

The Bruno was luckier. Another vessel arrived in Rhossili yesterday and towed her back to sea on the high tide.

Swansea Coastguard received a mayday call at 2.20am on Tuesday, reporting that the ship was hard aground in the water.

The Swansea Coastguard operations room requested the Rhossili Coastguard Rescue Team attend and the Burry Port inshore RNLI lifeboat and the Tenby all-weather RNLI lifeboats also launched. The Burry Port inshore lifeboat took the four crew off the vessel after they requested evacuation

 

 

 

National Trust bows to might of the sea
Dorset Echo - Dorchester,England,UK
By Steven Smith

NATURE'S WAY: Studland beach is eroding by two to three metres a year

TOURIST facilities that are used by an estimated one million people each year could have to be relocated before they fall into the sea, the National Trust is warning.

The organisation, which owns Studland Beach, said that its cafes, toilets, shops, car parks and beach huts were all under threat from erosion and inundation.

A spokesman said: "In the past sea defences were installed to defend infrastructure from the ravages of winter storms and these are now failing. Popular with holidaymakers, over one million people soak up the sun here throughout the year.

"The action of the sea is eroding the southern section of this popular tourist beach by two to three metres a year."

Over the past 10 years, the trust has moved beach huts inland twice and is now speaking to other organisations to look at the possibility of relocating some of its infrastructure out of what it calls the "risk zone"
It is also removing sea defences along the beach to allow the coastline to naturally realign itself.

Phil Dyke, coast and marine adviser to the National Trust, said: "Over the next 100 years the shape of our coastline will change, and our favourite sea-side destinations may not look the way they were captured in our holiday snapshots.

"To try and predict what these places will look like in the future, the National Trust has carried out research examining how things like sea-level rise and increased storminess will affect all our coastal sites.

"From these results we know where change is most likely to happen, what this change might be and now we are looking at what this means in terms of practical management.

"At the National Trust we believe in working with natural processes wherever possible. We need to realise that our environment is not fixed and that change is inevitable.

"Society needs to learn to adapt." 

Mablethorp BBC's The One Show  

John Sergeant during filming for the One Show along Mablethorpe seafront

Published Date: 26 August 2008

By Gemma Gadd

MABLETHORPE was featured on the BBC's One Show programme last night in a topical segment on the appeal of traditional beach huts.

TV personality and political correspondent John Sergeant visited Mablethorpe back in May and filmed the town's beach huts and coastline for the show.

Attractive images of a row of colourful beach huts with the blooming Queen's Park flower beds in the foreground were used as establishing shots of the town. These were followed by Mr Sergeant along the seafront, where he exclaimed: "It's the perfect British scene; the Union Jack streams in the wind, and this row of proud beach huts."

He went on to ask what made the wooden huts so desirable and spoke to local resident and beach hut owner Barbara Booth who defended the huts against Sergeant's comments they are "not much more than garden sheds."

The presenter concluded by looking at some of the new Bathing Beauties beach huts, asking if they represented the future for beach huts.

Helen Matthews from the local Tourism Forum told the Leader: "I am convinced the BBC were attracted to Mablethorpe and chose to film here because of the Bathing Beauties contest and how well the town is becoming known for its wonderful beach huts."

The One Show, which runs weekdays at 7pm on BBC one, is hosted Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley with a team of topical presenters including John Sergeant, Myleene Klass and Phil Tufnell.

 

Dorset Echo
Beach huts plunge into a 10ft crater

By Katie Clark

GOING UNDERGROUND: Beach huts at Milford-on-Sea have subsided into a hole that has appeared in the promenade

SEVERAL beach huts collapsed into a ten-foot crater which opened up along a New Forest seafront.

The huts in Milford-on-Sea fell into a large hole below the concrete walkway just two days before emergency works were due to start at the seaside spot.

New Forest District Council was due to start work on the weakened sea wall yesterday after a groyne closest to the Whitehouse on Hurst Road collapsed on Tuesday last week.

But Mother Nature proved to be more powerful and after a high tide on Saturday night coupled with extreme wave overtopping, the beach huts at the end of the row close to the Whitehouse fell into a large void below them the following morning.

Steve Cook, coastal engineer at New Forest District Council, said: "We are bringing in two tonnes of shingle and rock to protect the wall and raise the level of the beach to prevent the structure being battered any further. There will be an investigation to assess the concrete structure once the area has been made safe."

Mr Cook said the work at the site will take at least a month to complete and the council hopes funding will become available for further sea defence work later in the autumn.

Scores of beach huts damaged in raid

TWENTY-six beach huts were damaged in an overnight attack by would-be thieves.Police are appealing for information after damage was caused to the huts at Calshot beach last night.

Officers say 24 of the huts were broken into although nothing appears to have been stolen from inside. An attempt has been made to break into two others.

Police Constable Adrian Woodhead of Hythe Safer Neighbourhoods team said: "Considerable damage has been caused to the huts to gain entry; it appears a tool has been used to rip off the doors at the front of the huts. I would estimate the cost of repairs to all the beach huts to be in the region of two thousand pounds.

"I would like to speak to anyone who was at the beach yesterday evening or early this morning, particularly anyone fishing or walking their dog. They may have information which could assist the investigation"

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hythe Safer Neighbourhoods team on 0845 045 45 45, or call Crimestoppers, the charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111

11:30am Thursday 7th August 2008 

 

I Do Like To Be By The Seaside

05 August 2008 | 11:22

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside is at the Reunion Gallery until September 27. Open 10-5 Tues- Sat.

Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside, now showing at the Reunion Gallery, Felixstowe, celebrates all things nautical. It runs until September and will be featuring the work of a different artist every week as well as mix of paintings and creations by supporting artists.

This is a fun and quirky show which in true seaside fashion includes a peephole beach hut. Not quite what the butler saw, but equally witty.

Particularly impressive are Anne Paton's loose mixed media paintings; The Quay, and The Quay II which are energetic, subtle in palette, and quite raw. Linda Kingsford's acrylic works are far more graphic; and include paintings of beach huts, deck chairs and Thorpeness Windmill. They reveal a good understanding of light and will appeal to those who like representative art.

One work that really stands out in this show is Rebecca Thomas' Reef Encounter, a mixed media sculpture made of driftwood, shells, and string. Thomas' ship is a fine vessel and one that any art critic would be proud to christen. It has a raw beauty and is charged with atmosphere and association. Equally atmospheric are Alison Malcolm's textural paintings Silver Rain, and Breezy which capture the energy and moodiness of sea and sky, and make a good companion to Emma Green's semi abstract oils Dissolving, and The Ferry which are of a high level.

There are a number of etchings in the show as well works in glass, jewellery, and prints on canvas which include Jeremy Keeling's naïve and light Southwold Seagulls; a jolly work with lollipop trees, colourful beach huts, and characterful gulls.

As you walk into this exhibition you are greeted by seagulls and sea horses at every corner. It has a light and refreshing feel, and the prices in the show are very reasonable. Many of the works would make a fine memento of a visit to Felixstowe. Not to be missed.

Sonia Carvill

Beach hut competition weathers storm

Artist Joy Cole with one of her seaside paintings. She will paint a watercolour for the winner of the town's Best Dressed Beach Hut competition.

DOMINIC CHESSUM

06 August 2008 14:10


They took the full force of the tempestuous seas that battered the coast in autumn last year and many were left as no more than match wood.

But despite such adversity, nine months on and beach hut owners in Cromer are again gearing up to give their wooden shacks a make over for the annual best dressed beach hut competition.

Even those who lost their beach hut entirely during the storms are being encouraged to take part and use their imagination to convert their vacant plot into an eye catching spectacle for carnival week.

With the summer season in full swing, Hilary Hann, who runs the Garden House Gallery in Cromer and is sponsoring this year's event, said every beach hut deserved a bit of tender loving care and should be dressed up for a few days.

She said: “The first prize will go to the hut that really catches the judges' eyes.

“Owners don't have to spend lots of money on decorating - they simply have to use their imagination.

“People can even use the beach hut plot and create something on that if their hut was lost.”

Mrs Hann, who lost her own hut in the storm, said that continuing with the best beach hut competition sent out an important message to people that Cromer was a place able to bounce back.

After an 8ft sea surge hit the coast in the early hours of November 9 last year many of the huts, which stand on sea defences heading along the beach towards Overstrand, were left badly damaged.

Some had their sides and roofs caved in by huge boulders which were carried by gigantic waves crashing against the shore. Others were swept away entirely while a lucky few escaped with little more than flood damage.

Roy and Erica Condie, from the West Midlands, scoured the beach the next day but were only ever able to find one broken bit of their hut and a shard of the welsh dresser from inside.rescue

They have since completely rebuilt their hut and painted it a glorious bright yellow.

“We thought about whether to get it replaced for a long time but we are now really pleased with the new hut,” said Mrs Condie.

Mr Condie said: “We were lucky that ours was taken completely because it meant we did not have to spend the insurance money on having the pieces of the old one taken away. Some people did not have any insurance at all.”

The winner of the beach hut competition will receive a specially painted watercolour of their beach hut by Cromer artist Joy Cole who is one of this year's judges along with Mrs Hann and Cromer architect Jim Bond.

Entry forms are available from the Garden House Gallery, 31 Garden Street, Cromer, and entries must be submitted by Monday, August 18, ready for judging on Friday, August 22.

Chopper and three lifeboats in rescue

10:40am Tuesday 5th August 2008

A FAMILY had to be rescued by lifeboat crews when their boat started taking on water.

The two adults and two boys were on board a wooden 36ft converted trawler when they got into difficulty.

Their boat, called Caronel had lost power and had developed a split in its hull.

The Southend RNLI Lifeboat, Whitstable lifeboat and the larger lifeboat from Sheerness were launched, and found them 12 miles from Southend Pier on the Kent flats.

The search and rescue helicopter from Wattisham, which was on exercise in Norfolk, was diverted to the vessel in distress.

A 60-year-old man was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, suffering mild hypothermia.

The other man and the two boys were taken ashore at Shoebury Common by one of the lifeboat.

An operation to prevent the boat from sinking was then mounted by the three lifeboats.

Specialist equipment was used to pump water from the stricken vessel and it was towed back to calmer waters at Benfleet.

Den Freeman, a spokesman for the RNLI, said: “This was a good team effort by three lifeboat crews and the search and rescue helicopter.”

 

Crew praised for swimmingly good rescue

9:59am Wednesday 6th August 2008

St Davids lifeboat crew members have been praised for their bravery, after they swam through rough swell to rescue three teenage girls in danger of being swept out to sea.

The 16-year-olds, all on holiday from Cardiff, had become trapped in a gully at the base of a cliff at Caerfai Bay, St Davids, at around 8pm.

The quickly rising tide meant that the girls could not get themselves to safety and could not be reached by coastguard teams.

Both St Davids lifeboats were tasked to the scene, however heavy seas meant that there was a real danger of the inshore lifeboat (ILB) being washed up onto the cliff face and over submerged rocks if it went into the gully.

After assessing the situation it was decided to scramble the RAF rescue helicopter from Chivenor.

The helicopter would take about 45 minutes to get to the scene, but as the tide rose quickly the danger that the three girls would get swept off the rocks became more pressing.

The crew of the ILB consulted with coxswain David John and decided that one of their members would swim out in the rough ground swell, and over submerged rocks, to the casualties.

The crew member reached the casualties, assessed their condition, and managed to swim back to the ILB with one of the girls.

Once the girl was safely in the ILB all three of the crew members, Simon Thornton, Nicholas Phillips and Simon Twitchen, decided to swim back to the ledge and rescue the remaining two teenagers.

All three girls were then transferred from the ILB to the bigger all weather lifeboat which had stood by during the rescue.

The three girls were then taken back to the lifeboat station to be met by their parents, none the worse for the experience.

"It was a very rough swell," said a coastguard spokesman. "The three girls could have easily been washed off. It could easily have been a lot different."

Coxswain David John praised his crew, saying: "This was a first class rescue carried out by the ILB crew in difficult conditions and is a direct result of how highly trained they are by the RNLI".

 

 

 

 

Late night boat collision prompts air and sea rescue

9:56am Tuesday 5th August 2008
By Emma Goodfellow »

A woman was airlifted to hospital last light after the boat in which she was travelling crashed into a buoy on the Helford River.

The woman was one of six people in the rigid inflatable boat, commonly known as a rib, which is believed to have been travelling from Flushing near Falmouth to Gillan.

Dave Nicoll, from Falmouth RNLI, said he received a call at around 11pm saying that a rib had possibly hit the August Rock buoy.

Both lifeboats were launched and the crews discovered that a number of the rib’s occupants - understood to be both adults and children - had been thrown from the boat on impact with the buoy, but all had managed to climb back into the inflatable.

A femal crewmember had a head injury that was judged to be serious enough to scramble a helicopter from RNAS Culdrose to transfer her to hospital.

All six people on the rib were moved to the all-weather lifeboat, from the where the woman was winched into the helicopter and taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

The remainder of the rib’s crew were taken to Falmouth, with their boat towed behind them.

There was no rest for the lifeboat crews however, as shortly after reaching Falmouth, at around midnight, they were called to rescue a French yacht that had got into difficulty off The Manacles.

 

Southwold beach hut back in the family

SARAH BREALEY

07 August 2008 06:30

The Whitaker family outside the Southwold beach huts. Photos: Nick Butcher

As a child Michael Whitaker played on Southwold beach and took shelter in the family beach hut, just as his father, his grandmother and his great-grandfather did.

The beach hut was a humble fisherman's hut in his great-grandfather's day, and a hut on the very same site stayed in the family for 100 years - since before Southwold had a promenade or even a pier.

In 1986 it was sold, but now after a gap of more than 20 years, the hut is back in the family again. It has been rebuilt over the years - most recently this year, after it was damaged in storms last November - but still stands on the same site as Arthur Benjamin Smith's hut.

His great-grandson lives in Somerset and had no plans to invest in a Southwold beach hut. But when Mr Whitaker, 50, heard that the hut on the family site was up for sale, he could not resist.

The father-of-two said: “I was down here last November, and Geoff Ladd, who repairs the beach huts, said 'You know your old hut is up for sale, and if you want to buy it you should make an offer on it.'

“I had no intention of buying a beach hut, ever. But it was a once in a lifetime chance. My wife and I looked at each other and said, 'Let's find a way of buying it'. If I hadn't done it I would have regretted it forever. It was like fate.”

He does not want to reveal how much it cost, but intact beach huts typically change hands for £30-40,000. The sale went through in March and since then it has been rebuilt by Mr Ladd following the storm damage. And on Saturday 50 family members and friends from as far afield as South America and Australia, and as near as Yarmouth, gathered for the opening party and naming ceremony. It was called Aura Lee under its previous owners, but has been renamed Longshore Again, in honour of the name the family gave it, Longshore.

Mike Whitaker outside the Southwold beach hut

Colleen Whitaker, 81, Michael's mother, first used the beach hut more than 60 years ago, after she met her husband, and has been visiting the town since her childhood. She said things had changed a lot. “There are a lot more visitors now. Southwold used to be mostly inhabited by fishermen.

“I think the beach huts have become a bit more luxurious. The first one was never as grand as this! They used to cost a lot less, too.”

The hut passed from the Smiths to the Whitakers when Ida Mildred Smith, Mr Whitaker's grandmother, met William Snowdon Whitaker in a milliner's shop in the town centre. He was serving in the first world war, but they agreed that if he survived the war he would come back and marry her - and so it happened.

Mr Whitaker, a commander in the Royal Navy, said: “Being a Navy man I have no roots - I have lived all over the world. These are my roots, as far as I have any. I consider Southwold my family home, even though I have never lived here.”

Mrs Whitaker, who has 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, said: “We love it. It is wonderful that it is back in the family.”

 

UK. Brixham Coastguard rescues intoxicated teenagers by helicopter

Thursday, 07 August 2008

At quarter to one this morning Brixham Coastguard received several 999 calls from an 18 year old teenager reporting that he was in some form of distress on a cliff.

The boy told the Coastguard in the operations room that he was epileptic and had suffered a fit. He and a friend that was with him could not tell the Coastguard where they were and communications with the two boys was difficult as it became apparent that they were under the influence of alcohol.

Teignmouth and Torbay Coastguard rescue teams were called out to search the area. The teams with the assistance of the police helicopter Oscar 99 quickly located the boys. Ambulance and police officers were also requested to attend.

Due to the recent rainfall in the area and the make up of the ground where the boys were, it was deemed too dangerous to lower a cliff man down to the boys. A rescue helicopter was scrambled from Chivenor and Teignmouth lifeboat was requested to launch.

Whilst the helicopter was making its way to the location, it was decided to pick up Coastguard, ambulance and police personnel to drop them in on the coast. As units were moved in by the boat, it was discovered that there were a further 7 teenagers on a ledge surrounded on all sides by water.

The boy suffering from epilepsy was airlifted by the helicopter to the cliff top and transported to hospital by ambulance.

It was considered by the police and Coastguard units at the incident that it was too dangerous to extract the remaining seven boys and girls who were all under the influence. A decision was made that it was safer to leave them in the location they were in, until daylight.

Zoe Boyne, Duty Watch Manager Brixham Coastguard said:  This incident has tied up many resources throughout the night. It has also highlighted the dangers of young people putting themselves at risk in locations where they lose control of their actions due to the effects of intoxicating substances.

 Youngsters have lucky sea escape

Two youngsters had a lucky escape after getting into trouble in the North Sea on their dinghy.     Just after 2pm yesterday a 999 call was made by a concerned member of the public who spotted the dinghy in difficulty.

Coastguard officers contacted Sunderland RNLI and requested the launch of their relief Atlantic 85 Inshore lifeboat, as well as requesting the attendance of Seaham MCA Coastguard Rescue Team.

Ian Rowan, helmsman at Sunderland RNLI said "Initial reports suggested the two youths onboard the dinghy appeared to be having difficulty paddling back to shore against the wind and tide."

Shortly after launching, the lifeboat crew were informed that when Coastguards arrived at the scene they observed the youths onboard the dinghy managing to make it back to shoreline unaided. The lifeboat was then stood down from the incident.

Coastguards met up with the youths at the shore, and offered them advice about inflatable dinghies in open sea waters.     Ian added: "Fortunately the pair in the dinghy had not drifted too far from the shore, but the outcome could potentially have been much worse.

"Inflatable toys, airbeds and small dinghies are great fun in a pool, but can be dangerous on the open sea

Tribute to the bravery of Moelfre RNLI pair

Published Date: 07 August 2008

By Amelia Scott-Steele

TWO Moelfre RNLI volunteers have received letters of appreciation from RNLI chief executive Andrew Freemantle, in acknowledgement of a courageous rescue earlier this summer.    Nigel Musgrave and Edward Griffiths have been commended for their significant actions, which contributed to the saving of two lives.

The men received their letters for their courageous actions on Saturday, May 24 when the Moelfre RNLI lifeboat Robert and Violet launched to assist in the rescue operation of two men who were in the sea off Cemaes Bay.    A Coastguard officer had bravely jumped into the rough sea to rescue one of the men and assisted him onto an exposed rock.
Sadly, despite being airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd, the other man died.

Whilst on the Moelfre RNLI lifeboat the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew had inflated the lifeboats X boat , a small inflatable rescue dingy, and deployed it with Nigel and Edward on board.   They rowed the inflatable through the large waves and successfully recovered the 24-year-old, who by this time was exhausted and hypothermic, and the coastguard officer from the rock.    Both were transferred to the RNLI lifeboat where First Aid was rendered by the lifeboat crew on route to Amlwch port, where the casualty was transferred to a waiting Ambulance and taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat press officer Dave Massey said: "Both Nigel and Edward were extremely brave in entering the small X boat and rowing through the surf into the rocks in those testing conditions.

"The successful rescue of the two is testament to the courage and bravery of the RNLI crew who put all their experience and the intensive training into action."
 

 

Boy Rescued in Beach Drama

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 August 2008, 18:00 CDT

A FAMILY today thanked people who helped rescue their son when he was trapped on a beach as the tide came in.     Andrew Booth, 15, who has Asperger's syndrome, got his leg trapped in mud as his mother, father, brother and sister went fossil hunting on Charmouth Beach in Dorset.         His mother, Janet, said up to five members of the public frantically scrabbled the sand and mud away from her distressed son for 15 minutes as the water continued to rise.
 Eventually his leg was freed just as the rescue services arrived on the beach

The family, from Kings Norton, Birmingham, were on holiday and staying near the beach.  Mrs Booth said: "We have no idea who these people were but they were fantastic and they dug Andrew out of the mud. Andrew was very distressed. We are a Christian family and we believe these people were put there by God to help us."
Portland Coastguard said Andrew's father called 999 just before 9pm yesterday and the crew of Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard rescue officers went to release him.

An RNLI spokesman said: "The boy had sunk up to his knees with the tide coming in when the lifeboat was launched at 9pm." 

 

Forth Lifeboat in storm of calls

Published Date: 08 August 2008

By ADAM MORRIS
LIFEBOAT crews manning the Forth have experienced their busiest month ever as theyhave been called to deal with everything from a whale in difficulties to stranded day trippers.

The South Queensferry-based boat has been called out 13 times over the last month – the busiest period in its 41-year history.   It comes after the Royal National Lifeboat Institute said the crew has been called on 37 times this year, making it thesingle busiest in Scotland.  Summer weather explains the rise in the number of people using the water,
but the RNLI is at a loss to explain the spike in rescues.

Speaking after the latest incident, in which a kayaker with a dislocated shoulder had to be plucked to safety in strong winds on Wednesday night, spokesman Hamish Campbell said the trend had come as a surprise to rescuers.

"In the last four weeks, there have been 13 call-outs and no-one's quite sure why that is," he said. "It's quite bizarre, never in 40 years have we had this many. "But there's no obvious thing that's happening more, we're being called out to anything like the incident on Wednesday to things like engine failure, so no one thing can be to blame."

The team at South Queensferry consists of 16 male and three female volunteers. Other incidents this year requiring the attendance of a lifeboat include a man and his friend who had spent the day drinking on Cramond Island. David Gardiner, 26, and 20-year-old Natasha Cameron were rescued in the nick of time after attempting to swim back to the mainland in strong currents.

Last week, two boys were told off by the Coastguard for sailing an inflatable dingy near Fidra Island in strong seas.

Off the Dunbar coast in June, a surfer fell asleep while lying on his surf board, causing a local parade to come to a halt and launch a rescue only to find he had woken up and made it back to shore.

On Sunday, a yacht sank in the Forth, and the lifeboat had to save seven crew members.

A spokesman for the Coastguard said that while people getting into difficulties through negligence was annoying, they could not afford to assess why people had ended up in the situation.  It's not really for us to comment on because a rescue is a rescue and there's no different way to treat it," he said. "Certainly it has been a busy time for us and we do receive a lot of calls from Cramond Island.  "The times of the tide are clearly marked and our number is there, perhaps people just go across and lose track of time.

"We would say that drinking and sailing are definitely a no-go, not only because it inhibits decision making and reaction time, but because if you're underwater you go down a lot quicker with alcohol inside you."

RESCUE RESPONSE
Some of the incidents which lifeboat crews have responded to over the last month:

• A kayaker as part of a group who sustained a dislocated shoulder had to be rescued near Inchcolm island.

• A six-year-old boy gashed his head after falling from rocks on Inchcolm Island and had to be rushed ashore.

• Two yachts experienced engine failure and had to be towed ashore, while another ran aground at Cramond.

• Call-outs to people stranded on Cramond Island.

• A whale in difficulties at Limekilns in Fife.

• A speedboat which lost a propeller. 

 

 

 

 

August 3, 2008

From The Sunday Times

Is it worth it?
Beach Hut in Wells-next the Sea for £45,000

Anna Mikhailova

What it is: Beach Hut 10 stands on the fringes of the sandy shores of Wells-next-the-Sea, on the north Norfolk coast, regularly voted one of the country’s top 10 beaches. A rather weather-beaten wooden affair, it is intended as a base for storing seaside necessities and has bench storage, a pull-down table and removable wooden shutters that you can throw open to take advantage of sea views, or close so you can huddle inside with a Thermos flask when the weather turns bad.

Wells-next-the-Sea is a pretty Georgian town and boatie enclave, perfect for sailing, bird-watching and gillying (the coastal tradition of fishing for shore crabs). It is an hour’s drive from Norwich.

The problems: It is a lot to pay for what is simply a shed by the sea, especially in the wake of recent reports that show values of beach huts across the country falling. It lacks all modern facilities, including electricity and water, and they cannot be installed. The only work you can carry out is the regular repainting of the colourful exterior, which is recommended every few years because of the salty air. It is not fit for overnight stays, which are banned by the council, so owners must make the long drive home or stump up for a hotel.And don’t assume you can sneakily get away with it - a beach manager isto hand every night to boot out unwanted guests.

The proximity of the neighbouring huts, and the tourists who flock to the coast in summer, mean that it lacks privacy, and the surrounding beach can get crowded and noisy. The family pooch would also be excluded, as the area is dog-free.

The advantages:Beach Hut 10 is a cheap lock-up-and-leave option if you are a fan of the English summer holiday. Maintenance and upkeep costs are minimal, bar the annual bill of £149 owners must pay to the Earl of Leicester, on whose land the hut is built. . 

 

 

 

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