With regard to your article on the proposal to gain planning consent for 50 beach huts on the promenade at Hove Lagoon (The Argus, May 3), this proposal would take away the last well-used open seafront area where there are uninterrupted views of the sea and the South Downs.

Beach huts are really just glorified storage sheds used on high days and holidays. This would be an unnecessary and pointless development.

New beach huts would effectively create a two-metre wall blocking sea views for houses in Kingsway and views of all the activities on Hove Lagoon for walkers on the promenade.

There are already plenty of unused and unloved beach huts that should be compulsorily repossessed as they are an ugly sight along our seafront.

There are also plenty for sale which suggests there is not such a high demand. A new hut will cost about £3,000 to build plus maintenance and cannot be sold for three years, so it is not a quick earner.

This part of the seafront has been notorious for vandals breaking into beach huts, so why create more targets? A recent storm blew a beach hut on to Hove Lagoon from its high position on the promenade. It could have easily killed someone.

More beach huts will encourage more car use to the area that is not well served by public transport.

Parking is bad and there is already HGV traffic from Shoreham harbour.

If approved the beach huts should be allocated to residents of Wish to stop unnecessary travel and low usage.

This area already needs its decaying seafront shelter repaired and Hove Lagoon needs its pavilion restored and the small lagoon brought back into use. It also needs a park warden and thorough cleaning not more beach huts to add to its problems.

I urge anyone wishing to save our last bit of open seafront to object to this proposal immediately. Time runs out on May 15. I hope the council sees sense when this decision comes to committee.

  • Norma Johnson, Kingsway, Hove