Comments on: Eype Beach to be sold. Possible price: £1 (UPDATED)

By: P J Nash

P J Nash — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:28:14 +0000

Don’t worry, it will be a West Dorset District Council stitchup and the beach will be sold to their mates. Another of our public resources gone forever.

By: Jonathan Hudston

Jonathan Hudston — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:43:06 +0000

Joan – yes, I’ve seen various other websites and papers say it’s for sale, but it is not for sale at the moment.
However, the council’s executive committee did agree that it should be sold on the open market.
The only proviso that councillors made when they agreed this was that specialist auctioneers should be used.
If they’ve now decided that they want to ensure public access and responsible management in the future, I don’t know exactly how they’d go about this.
Could they put a covenant on the land?
Could they only allow certain bodies to bid by sealed tender?
Or could they decide that actually they don’t want to sell it on the open market any more and instead just do a deal with a body like the National Trust?
They’re proposing to offer Bridport’s oldest secular building – The Chantry in South Street – to the Vivat Trust, which currently leases it. (There’s pieces elsewhere on this site about how The Chantry probably used to be a primitive lighthouse).
I wonder if Eype Beach will be put into a restricted sale category? But then, if part of the aim is to raise money, is an opportunity being missed?

By: joan greg

joan greg — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:42:21 +0000

I think everyone has got it wrong the beach is not for sale at the moment.
IF it were to be sold in the future public access would still be allowed and whoever bought it would have to manage it responsibly.
The £1 is only the worth to the council on their assets list.
Joan

By: Eype Beach

Eype Beach — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 18:41:51 +0000

Put me on e-bay and see how much I raise!

* Access to general public must be preserved,
* Listed as part of Jurassic Coast, development restrictions probably apply.
* Good for walking and, um, other beach associated activities.

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:01:20 +0000

It’s the same everywhere. Councils spending £millions on new offices then selling off property which once gone no longer generates income.
The land beneath our feet DOES NOT belong to the councils, they only look after it for the people of this country to enjoy from time to time

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:08:40 +0000

Depending on liabilities and legalities I’ll start the sensible bidding at £1,000.

By: Jonathan Hudston

Jonathan Hudston — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:15:51 +0000

Chris, er no – this messageboard is certainly not the official bidding process. The proposed sale of Eype Beach was simply something that I noticed and thought worth reporting, as nobody else had.

There’s been talk elsewhere (on Twitter and on Facebook) about the National Trust perhaps buying it. The Trust owns lots of other land between Bridport and Lyme Regis. I’d be very surprised if West Dorset Leisure Holidays, who run the caravan park at Highland’s End in Eype, weren’t also interested.

I don’t know how exactly the sale is going to be managed. It may be that the council doesn’t, yet.

At least one other holding in Bridport is going to be auctioned next month. I’m going to post something about that in the morning.

Thank you to everyone who has commented so far. I’ve enjoyed reading your thoughts – and bids!

By: Chris Land

Chris Land — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:54:32 +0000

Hey Jonathan Hudston,

Could you let me know what the mentioned costs and liabilities are in relation to this, and how the official bidding process actually takes place (or is this message board the official bidding process?).

Totally agree with what David has said – to be able to be given the opportunity to buy such a beach – it should be to safeguard the future of the beach for the public to enjoy for generations to come. I think that is paramount, and hence it shouldn’t become private or some commercial venture…

By: David

David — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:28:57 +0000

I think you are all missing the point, apart from John Warnecke. If a private investor buys it, they have the right to close it to the public. That means the two caravan and camping sites that overlook the beach may not have access. That would certainly mean a drop in tourism.

The whole point of visiting Eype is that you can walk down to the beach in a few minutes. It’s not touched by amusement arcades or other tacky seaside shops. It’s a beautiful beach, quiet and untouched. If it is sold, it’s a crime. What next? Let’s flog off Stonehenge!

By: sam

sam — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:07:01 +0000

Well i think it is haha i want to buy the beach only if global warming hurries up so i can start hotel business there where people want to sunbathe and go on holiday!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

PS i won’t only pay 100 quid and throw my girlfriend in i will also let you have my dog and a £4.50 off tesco voucher lol