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Lockdown 5th November 2020 - NFDC Information for Beach Hut Owners

NFBHOA asked NFDC to provide guidance concerning beach hut use to hut owners for the national lockdown starting today, 5th November 2020. The response from Steve Cook, Coastal Service Manager was as follows:

NFDC will NOT be preventing hut owners from using their huts but expect everyone to follow the Government guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

The main Government message is:

From 5 November, everyone must stay at home, and may leave only for a limited set of reasons. These include:

for exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household.

NFDC information and service updates can be found here:

https://newforest.gov.uk/coronavirus#h21

NFDC car parks will remain open as will the public toilets which were re-opened following the April 2020 lockdown. NFDC’s Streetscene advise that at present, toilet buildings will be staying open, they would move to the normal winter closing programme and the NFDC website will be updated accordingly. At our cubicle buildings, a rotational opening system will be in place.

Having been advised that we can continue to use our beaches and beach huts for exercise and recreation during the lockdown, please observe the Government guidance and stay safe.

Kestrel Security Patrols at Barton on Sea

Following the incident of criminal damage and theft which took place at 22 huts at Barton on 2 /3 October 2020, NFDC have reinstated Kestrel Security patrols at the beach.

Announcement

The Committee are delighted to announce that we have appointed a new Association Chairman, Alice Burch. Alice, also an Association Member, joins us with a background in corporate, commercial and marine law as well as owning a beach hut at Hordle Cliff. Alice lives in the New Forest with her two children and enjoys running, triathlon and swimming in the sea.

She was nominated by Hon. Secretary, Jan Wise, seconded by Calshot Rep., Pauline Haden and unanimously agreed by the Committee. She will remain as Acting Chairman until her appointment is officially voted on at the next AGM. We hope you join us in welcoming her to the team.

Annual General Meeting 2020 Postponed

The NFBHOA Constitution requires an Annual General Meeting to be held towards the end of April. Accordingly, the Committee worked to organize this year’s meeting for 28 April 2020.

However, in the light of the coronavirus precautions outlined by the Government on 16 March 2020, the Committee decided to postpone until further notice the Annual General Meeting which we had planned.

Unfortunately, as we remain in unprecedented times with various restrictions, the Committee have made the decision to postpone the 2020 AGM until Spring (April) 2021. We feel it is the safest option for our numerous members but continue to comply with the Companies Act 2006.

If you have any pressing matter you would like us to deal with, please contact the rep for your beach via the email links in the Committee section below.

2020 – 2021 Photographic Competition

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, your Committee has sadly been unable to arrange a social event for members this year. So, we are pleased to announce a new Photographic Competition, open to all current Association members. This year, there will be a theme of Autumn & Winter at the Beach.

Photographs can be accepted until a closing date of 31 January 2021. Full details of the competition, including the rules can be found at: https://www.newforestbeachhuts.com/members-only/social-events

NFDC Contact Phone Number Change

NFDC have advised that from 3 August, you will no longer be able to contact them on 023 80 28 5588. If you have the 5588 number stored anywhere, please delete it to save you misdialling in future. If you call that number you will hear a recorded message to advise that the number is no longer in use.

All the other NFDC telephone numbers remain unchanged and 023 80 28 5000 is the customer services number.

Before telephoning you may wish to save time by visiting the website http://www.newforest.gov.uk where there is information about NFDC's services.

By visiting https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1162/Contact-us you will also see all NFDC contact options including using a web-chat with the customer services team.

You can email NFDC at customer.services@nfdc.gov.uk

If you call customer services you will hear a list of options. Please listen carefully so you can select the right one for the service you need. Your call will then be automatically put through to the service you want, or you will be connected to customer services.

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

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 next AGM. We are all volunteers.

If you are interested in being 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.