Founded in 1990, the Association aims to represent, support and safeguard the interests of its members who own beach huts at Barton-on-Sea, Calshot, Hordle Cliff or Milford-on-Sea. We hope you will find information of use and interest in these pages, whether you are a general enquirer or looking for information in our members’ only section.
The Association’s purpose, set out in its constitution, is to advise, represent, and liaise with New Forest District Council and other authorities on behalf of its members across all matters relating to the ownership of beach huts. Membership is by annual subscription and there are currently over 500 huts whose owners are members. The Association is headed up by a committee of 7. Although not a Registered Charity, the Association makes donations to charitable organisations from time to time.
If you need water on your visits to the beach, remember to bring some with you!
Steve Cook, NFDC's Service Manager for Coastal & Public Facilities has today (Friday 22 May 2020) advised that all coastal water taps have been turned off due to the risks around covid-19 and following general guidance received by the Government. The decision has therefore been taken that they are a potential contamination point and so should not be available for use. This will continue to be reviewed as further guidance is received from the Government.
Also, NFDC toilets at our beaches remain closed on Government advice, again to minimize the risks around covid-19.
Barton Gate Opening on Thursday 11 June 2020
NFBHOA has received the following information from NFDC:
We will be opening the Barton gate on Thursday 11 June from 08:00 to 14:00
Access is being provided to enable hut owners to drive down to take heavy items such as furniture, materials/tools for repair and we ask that once items have been delivered to your hut you must return your vehicle to the car park. Staff will be making checks so please adhere to this request. The gate will be locked at 14:00 promptly.
If you require vehicle access, please could you let us know by Wednesday 10 June so we can monitor the numbers requiring access, please email: coastal.team@nfdc.gov.uk
The speed limit along Fisherman’s Walk and along the lower cliff is strictly limited to 5 mph. Flashing hazard lights must be used at all times. Vehicles must give way to all pedestrians using the access track. You must keep to the track at all times. When parked near you hut along the lower cliff all vehicles must park to the landward side of the track and must not obstruct the access for other vehicles or pedestrians. All vehicle owners must ensure that their vehicles are road worthy and that the appropriate vehicle insurances are in place and up to date. Please do not follow service vehicles or attempt to drive down Fisherman’s Walk if you see the gate is open on any other dates as you are at risk of being locked in.
We will endeavour to open the Barton gate between 08:00 and 14:00 on the dates below, for updates please refer to the Barton Gate opening details on our Hut Owners page: http://newforest.gov.uk/beachhutowners
7 July 2020
1 September 2020
6 October 2020
3 November 2020
1 December 2020
5 January 2021
2 February 2021
2 March 2021
Kind regards & stay safe
Judith Lacey
Coastal & Civic Building & Facilities Administrator judith.lacey@nfdc.gov.uk
New Forest District Council newforest.gov.uk
Tel: 023 8028 5588
Annual General Meeting Postponed
The NFBHOA Constitution requires an Annual General Meeting to be held towards the end of April. Accordingly, the Committee have been working to organize this year’s meeting.
However, in the light of the coronavirus precautions outlined by the Government on 16 March, the Committee has decided to postpone until further notice the Annual General Meeting which we had planned for 28 April 2020.
It is hoped that the AGM can be held in early autumn 2020 but Association members will be advised of a new date when the situation becomes clearer.
2019-2020 Income and Expenditure Account
The Income and Expenditure Accounts for 2019-2020 were to have been presented at the 2020 AGM. However, as the AGM has been postponed, the accounts are instead available for Members to view in the Members Only section, by clicking on AGM minutes (current and archive)
New NFBHOA Committee Members Urgently Required
We are still looking for a new Chairperson for the Association, a position which has now been vacant for a year. In addition, the post of Barton Rep. is vacant, as Lesley Monaghan resigned during 2019. Colin Holdsworth would prefer not to continue as the Milford Rep. and will not stand for re-election if someone else comes forward. The rest of the Committee are willing to stand again, and their statements of intent will be available at the AGM. We are all volunteers.
If you are interested in being the Chairperson, the Barton Rep. or the Milford Rep. please contact Jan Wise for further details: hon.secretary@newforestbeachhuts.com
Any nominations for these committee positions must be received in writing by the Hon. Secretary at least 14 days prior to the date of the AGM and accompanied by the names of the Proposer and Seconder. Prospective nominees will need to be members of the Association.
Issue of Annual Beach Hut Site Licence Fee Invoices for 2020 - 2021.
We have been advised by NFDC that the annual beach hut licence fee invoices, which have been on hold since March 2020, will be issued in the near future and a reduction will be applied for the 42 day period 1 April to 12 May 2020 when huts were not accessible, representing an 11.5% reduction in all fees.
The published 2020-2021 Beach Hut Fees and Charges listing can be seen on the NFDC website at:
http://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/16602/Beach-hut-fees-and-charges
To help NFBHOA Members understand the changes in Fees, we show a comparison between the 2020-2021 charges and those applicable for 2019-2020 in our Members Only section by clicking on: NFDC list of current fees.
Payment is only due to NFDC after receipt of your invoice and the amount should reflect the listed fee for your size hut at your particular beach, less the 11.5% reduction.
Position pending
Chairman
Position pending
Barton Representative
If you see anti-social behaviour or criminal activity in progress, do not intervene, but call 999.
Report any suspicious behaviour you see, or damage to your hut which you believe may have been caused by criminal activity, to the police on 101.
Be ready to give the postcode for the incident. For Barton on Sea BH25 7DU, Calshot SO45 1BR, Hordle Cliff SO41 0UX and Milford SO41 0PY.
Looking around your neighbours’ huts is invaluable. Please report any damage found to your NFBHOA beach rep. (for contact, see: https://www.newforestbeachhuts.com/uploads/library/General/Contacts.pdf )
or phone NFDC on 02380 285000, email: coastal.team@nfdc.gov.uk
Outside normal office hours call NFDC’s emergency service on 023 8028 5250. In the unlikely event you are unable to contact NFDC on this number, you can call an emergency mobile number: 07771 259098.
http://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/17693/Emergency-out-of-hours
NFBHOA has notice boards at all the beaches with information regarding tides (Calshot does in the summer) and general information which you may find useful in an emergency.
Advice for Beach Hut Owners - Autumn and Winter
Autumn / winter is an interesting time at the beach, but there are fewer people about to look out for problems with huts and weather may cause damage too. So, the first step to keep your hut safe and secure is to make sure that it is in good condition and that it is properly locked-up. If repair work is needed, a list of contractors can be found at:
https://www.newforestbeachhuts.com/members-only/repair-and-maintenance
If you are closing your hut for the winter, please be sure to remove any items of value and all gas bottles.
Under the licence issued to owners by New Forest District Council for beach huts on our 4 beaches, no renting of huts is permitted under any circumstances.
Responsible dog owners and their dogs are welcome on our beaches, but it is advisable to keep dogs on long leads. Please clean up after your dog has fouled.
