A seaside council that prides itself on spotless beaches and a tough stance on fly-tipping has been slammed for neglecting a ‘shocking’ homeless encampment overlooking pristine beach huts that residents have forked out thousands for.
Aerial photographs reveal the extent of a large rubbish dump located halfway down the sloping cliffs at Bournemouth.
A whole assortment of debris from the abandoned camp can be seen including an overturned wheelie bin, several broken chairs, a ladder, plastic crates, a rusty chiminea and a ripped tent.
While it is largely covered by overgrowth, the rubbish pile can easily be seen from the path at the top of the 100ft cliff and the prom at the bottom.
Beach huts in the much sought after Bournemouth area and nearby can cost up to £3,330 a year to rent.
Residents also fork out an average of £32,500 to purchase their own beach hut, though more luxurious models have gone on the market for more than £300,000.
There are about 1,000 beach huts along the seven-mile beach in Bournemouth and Poole.
Rental fees for the average sized huts are also set to increase to up to £3,800 by 2027.
Stuart Henderson, who owns a beach hut 30ft below the ‘rat-infested dump’, is among those who has been angered by the encampment.
He said the situation is an ‘absolute disgrace’.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP), which prides itself on spotless beaches and a tough stance on fly-tipping has been slammed for neglecting a ‘shocking’ homeless encampment overlooking its award-winning coastline
Stuart Henderson, who owns a beach hut 30ft below the ‘rat-infested dump’, is among those who has noticed the encampment. He said the situation is an ‘absolute disgrace’
Mr Henderson, 52, said: ‘The amount of rubbish there its quite shocking. It’s not a good look’
Mr Henderson, 52, said: ‘My beach hut is directly underneath it and the amount of people that stop and look up at it is incredible.
‘The amount of rubbish there its quite shocking. It’s not a good look.
‘We pay a lot of money for our beach hut, it’s our little bit of paradise.
‘I see rats everywhere. They have been gnawing at the bottom of my hut.
‘I didn’t realise just how bad it was until I saw the pictures, it’s disturbing.
‘Why haven’t the council cleaned it up. Why would you want to spend £1,500 renting a beach hut and look behind you and see that?’
BCP Council has been accused of failing to tackle the eyesore and those behind it while at the same time fining well-intentioned homeowners for leaving unwanted furniture outside their properties for others to freely take.
Isabelle Pepin, 42, was handed a £500 fine for fly-tipping after she left a cabinet outside her home.
Mr Henderson has questioned why he has to pay high rent for his beach hunt when the council has allowed the encampment to stay
The angered resident has also noticed a proliferation of rats and evidence that the rodents have been biting around the base of his beach hut
Beach huts in the much sought after Bournemouth area and nearby can cost up to £3,330 a year to rent
There are about 1,000 beach huts along the seven-mile beach in Bournemouth and Poole
A whole assortment of debris from the abandoned camp can be seen within the encampment
Aerial photographs reveal the extent of the large rubbish dump located on the sloping cliffs
The pile can easily be seen from the path at the top of the 100ft cliff and prom at the bottom
Items include an overturned wheelie bin, several broken chairs, a ladder, plastic crates, a rusty chiminea and a ripped tent
Residents who have spotted the encampment have described the litter as ‘a disgrace’
The encampment is nestled half-way down the cliffside and close to the zig zag path
Beach hut owners have expressed their dissatisfaction at the encampment directly above them
The path to the encampment has tricky access and is surrounded by overgrown greenery
The encampment, circled, has outraged residents and beach hut owners who say BCP Council has neglected to remove it
Damian Quillan, 56, left two cut up doors against his garden gate in readiness to take to the dump and was also hit with a £500 fine.
Both accused the council for using householders as ‘easy targets’ instead of tracking down unscrupulous fly-tippers.
The pair have since received letters from the council saying they will not be taken to court ‘at the moment’ as the fly-tipping policy is being reviewed.
But the local authority has been accused of double standards for leaving the dump for months.
One local resident said: ‘How can the same council come down like a tonne of bricks on homeowners they say are guilty of fly-tipping yet do nothing about this eyesore or the people who have created it?
‘It is directly above the beach which is Bournemouth’s prized asset and attracts thousands of people. What sort of message does this send out?’
Richard Herrett, portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations at BCP Council, said: ‘We are aware of the unauthorised encampment on the cliff at East Cliff and are actively engaging with the occupants through our multi-agency approach.
‘They would be supported by the housing outreach teams if necessary.
‘Access to this site is challenging due to the location, but the camp will be cleared as soon as it is possible and safe to do so.’
Damian Quillan, 56, left two cut up doors against his garden gate in readiness to take to the dump and was hit with a £500 fine by BCP Council
He has accused the council of using householders as ‘easy targets’ instead of tracking down unscrupulous fly-tippers
Isabelle Pepin, 42, who was handed a £500 fine for fly-tipping after she left a cabinet outside her home, has accused the council of hypocrisy for doing little about the encampment
A council worker seen at the point of handing Isabelle Pepin her fine for fly-tipping