Beach huts plan by landowner who made foiled private parking bid on Shingle Bank Drive in Milford

THE mystery new owner of part of a Milford street where a private parking bid was scuppered is now looking to build beach huts nearby.

Following the row over the permit plan, local New Forest district councillor David Hawkins has slammed the “stupid idea” for 10 timber huts.

As reported in the A&T, Shingle Bank Drive residents were shocked to see a sub-contractor hand-painting 14 on-street parking bays on its upper stretch on Thursday 11th April, including in a turning space.

Wooden signposts were added to each, stating they were for permit holders only. The worker said his unnamed London-based employer had bought the road weeks earlier.

This sparked concerns for elderly and vulnerable residents of retirement complex Homegrange who feared they would be left “isolated” as the bays would have prevented visits from carers, family and friends.

The road and a seafront plot were among three parcels of land sold for £7,000 to an unnamed buyer through an auction site.

But Hampshire County Council officers stepped in to remove all signage and markings, confirming it was an “adopted road” under the management of its highways team.

HCC also said it would “look to recoup any costs incurred… in relation to removal of unauthorised markings”.

The A&T received a phone call from a man calling himself Damian, purporting to be a representative of the landowner, whom he would not identify.

Passing on the landowner’s apology to residents, he said they intended to take legal action against the conveyancing solicitor.

Damian added his client intended to carry out further work in the area to “enhance the community and local economy for the benefit of residents and tourists”. But he would not disclose its nature.

The A&T has since learned a pre-planning application business enquiry has been submitted to NFDC for the beach huts.

Proposed for the seafront plot behind Shingle Bank Drive, the applicant’s name is listed simply as ‘Dylan’, with Thorns Young Architectural in Portsmouth acting as agent.

The listing said they “may have potential for alternative uses and ventures, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable”.

Hitting out at the plans, Cllr Hawkins told the A&T: “I personally think the people who didn’t earn money from the parking slots are trying to do something else that will create problems just to make money.

“They’re just after money, money, money.”

Pointing out NFDC recently installed a temporary path in that area after storm damage, he speculated the plot could be lost to the Solent in 20 years or less.

“I wouldn’t have thought putting beach huts there is a good idea, and they’re miles from the actual beach,” the councillor continued.

“I’m really not in favour, and think it’s a stupid idea.

“They haven’t done their homework at all. Hopefully they will fail, but you never know in this life, do you?”

Referring to the parking row, he added: “Because the road is looked after by Hampshire County Council highways, that negates people coming from London and setting up parking spaces for residents and visitors to pay for – how stupid is that?”

The beach huts bid was mentioned at Monday’s Milford Parish Council meeting, but parish clerk Graham Wells told the A&T afterwards members were “all a bit uncertain of what is going on there”.

He added: “We see these sort of enquiries all the time – perhaps not as controversial as this may be – but we can’t really comment in detail as there is nothing really to comment on at this stage.”

The office of Thorns Young declined to comment when contacted by the A&T.