Disabled users get special beach huts on Bournemouth seafront
- Published
Wheelchairs fitted with large balloon tyres can be borrowed to be used on the beach
Four new beach huts designed for disabled users have opened on Bournemouth beach.
The Seagull and Windbreak beach huts have replaced five standard beach huts west of Boscombe Pier.
A wooden access trackway enables visitors in wheelchairs to access the beach down to the waterline.
The design was picked by residents after a competition in 2009 and the beach huts can now be hired for use from Bournemouth Borough Council.
Each hut can accommodate up to four wheelchair users and are equipped with chairs, a table, split level work surface, gas stove, lockable cupboards and shared fresh drinking water tap.
They also have high colour contrast surfaces and tactile floor surfaces to assist the visually impaired.
The council is also providing beach-going wheelchairs fitted with large balloon tyres that users can borrow for a refundable deposit.
Peter Francis-Lewis from Brighton based A:B:I:R: architects created the winning design and the DOTS Disability group worked with residents and Push Studies to construct the huts.