Heacham beach hut owners launch campaign amid fears that West Norfolk Council will sell land

Beach hut owners have joined forces amid fears that the land they occupy could be sold.

The newly-formed Heacham Beach Hut Association is launching a public campaign urging West Norfolk Council to halt the proposed sale of the land.

The move comes after the council had written to owners, announcing its intention to recommend the land - with 105 beach huts on site - be sold at auction.

This would transfer the area of publicly owned coastline into private hands and “leave it vulnerable to prohibitive costs and commercial redevelopment”, the group says.

A decision has not been made yet as to whether the land will be sold. Borough council cabinet members are set to discuss the matter at their meeting on September 23.

A spokesperson from the council confirmed to the Lynn News that beach hut owners were directly contacted about these changes.

The news has caused “shock and anger” among the owners, who are already frustrated that ground rent on their properties has increased.

One beach hut owner gave an example of their rent increasing from £522 to £730 a year.

Fears that the vista could be altered or have public access restricted by a future private owner motivated by profit are shared by the wider Heacham community, the group claims.

Some have described this as a threat to Norfolk’s coastal heritage.

Stuart Marshall, a beach hut owner, describes his as “a little piece of local history and an escape”.

“The beach huts are an iconic feature of the seafront. I am proud to have one and will miss my little sanctuary if it is taken away or made financially unaffordable,” he said.

Another owner, Tracey Mellor, added that her hut is a source of many memories with her family.

“Our beach hut holds many memories for us, grandparents and grandchildren - we use it several times a week and can’t imagine not having it,” she said.

The Heacham Beach Hut Association argues that the proposed sale is a “short-sighted act of asset stripping” that will damage local tourism.

Photographer and Heacham resident Christina Brown voiced her concerns. She said: “Heacham wouldn’t be the same without the beach huts. They’re part of the landscape, and so many people have made memories there over the years.

“We need to keep them to maintain our seaside heritage and traditions.”

Fellow resident and beach hut owner Tracey Turnbull also voiced her anger.

“This is a complete joke, and the council should be ashamed. Asset stripping their reliable income streams, changing the face and culture of coastal rural England, potentially changing an iconic vista and causing financial and personal distress to owners,” she said.

“We will fight this, make no mistake.”

Many beach hut owners say they proceeded with purchases and investments based on clear assurances from council officers that their leases would be renewed.

Caron Rawnsley, who has only owned her beach hut for just over a year, said: “We have put a lot of time, money and effort into it. It is our little bit of escapism by the sea.”

The Heacham Beach Hut Association plans to do “whatever it takes” to keep the coastline in public hands. It has now launched a petition.

The group is currently seeking legal advice and is determined to oppose the “privatisation” of the coastline.