THE beach huts at Crooklets in Bude were up for discussion once again at a recent town council planning committee meeting — and this time, the numbers add up.

When the plans were put to Bude-Stratton Town Council’s planning committee at the end of November, the number of huts Cornwall Council proposed it wanted to erect was more than the number drawn up on the map, leaving councillors confused and frustrated.

The committee opted to object the application on the grounds that the plans were incomplete and inconclusive.

Speaking after the November meeting, Cllr Bob Willingham, chairman of the planning committee, said: “The application says it is for the erection of 36 beach huts but the plans we’ve been given do not show that number, so how can we agree to it when there appears to be some missing?

“I don’t want the public to think that by objecting to this application we are against the new beach huts, because we are not, but these plans are incomplete, and they should be resubmitted with all the beach huts included so we can look at them properly.”

Currie and Brown Widnell have now resubmitted the plans on behalf of Cornwall Council and it appears that all the proposed huts are accounted for — however, there are now 38 new small huts, rather than the 36 first suggested.

The new planning application is for the erection of 38 small beach huts, the demolition of 26 dilapidated beach huts and replacement with 26 new huts, as well as the refurbishment of 41 existing concrete beach huts — all in the Crooklets Beach area.

Although town councillors were pleased that the map indicating the number and placement of the beach huts was more accurate this time around, they were not happy with the positioning of all of them, especially four new small beach huts at North Crooklets by the surf life saving club.

The 26 huts to be demolished are situated along South Crooklets Terrace, and the replacement units will take up the same space. Twenty-two of the planned refurbished huts are from the South Crooklets Play Area, while the other 19 are situated at North Crooklets.

A majority of the new small huts will be located on the South Crooklets Play Area, behind the 22 planned refurbished ones, while the other four will be, as mentioned, by the surf life saving club on North Crooklets.

Cllr Willingham said: “I don’t like losing all the space that the new huts are going to take up, and I especially don’t like the four that are proposed near the memorial benches. It’s overdevelopment of the area in my opinion.”

Cllr Brian Dixon added: “As well as overdevelopment, there’s a lack of facilities. The toilets are there now but come March we’ve already been told that they’ll be gone. So surely we can object on those grounds too?”

Cllr Julia Bryson agreed and proposed that the town council objects to the application due to over-development as well as the lack of facilities — the other councillors were both in favour.

The final decision rests with Cornwall Council.