BUDE’S award winning beaches, Crooklets and Summerleaze, are looking much brighter with the addition of new coloured beach huts.

Nigel Pearce, Lib Dem Cornwall Councillor for Bude, said: “We have been campaigning at Cornwall Council to get investment for the new look beach huts for some time now, and it’s lovely to see the new brighter huts being built.”

Some of the existing 106 beach huts have been refurbished, but the majority of huts have been totally rebuilt with an additional 100, totalling over 200 beach huts for people to rent annually, weekly or daily from the TIC at Summerleaze Crescent car park.

David Parsons, Cornwall Councillor for Bude (Lib Dem), added: “The new beach huts are looking excellent, and it’s great to see investment in the Bude beaches that is so important to our area.”

But not everyone is keen.

There is mixed opinion regarding the new beach huts that have been introduced to Bude’s beaches, writes Rosie Cripps.

As discussed at Bude-Stratton Town Council’s full council meeting on Thursday, June 2, the colourful, modern huts that have been placed in Crooklets and Summerleaze have been welcomed by many, having replaced the worn, old and dismal huts that were there previously.

Nigel Pearce, Cornwall Councillor for Bude (Lib Dem), said: “For some time, Cornwall Council has been working hard to invest in new beach huts for Bude. They’re looking good, look like beach huts, and people are enjoying them. I understand that these huts are also wiping out the waiting list.

“It’s not all done yet, and one or two people may not like them, but the beaches are busy, the cafes are full and overall, Bude is looking really good.”

Cllr Peter Moores agreed that the beach huts had had a good response from tourists, but was concerned about the maintenance and upkeep of Bude’s new assets.

This was then answered with the reassurance that the huts are not only an asset to the town, but to maintenance companies and hiring companies.

Similarly, the huts have also met some opposition by Cllr Lee Bartrop, who said: “I think we need to be quite careful about the beach huts, as I don’t think Cornwall Council needed to provide them to the town.

“Through funding, they are developing a service for the community, which is fine, but I’m worried that if Cornwall Council has to find extra money, they will need to sell some of Bude’s assets. If it comes to that, they would probably decide to sell the huts to any buyer, and I think that is something we should keep an eye out for.”