A Suffolk-based actor and TV presenter is "overjoyed" that 14 historic beach huts are set to be reinstated to their previous home in a Suffolk seaside town.
Griff Rhys Jones, star of BBC comedy sketch shows Not the Nine O'Clock News and Alas Smith and Jones, said he was "delighted" that the Felixstowe huts, currently stood behind metal barriers close to Golf Road car park, were set to return to outside the Spa Pavilion theatre on the seafront.
On Tuesday, East Suffolk Council's cabinet was being recommended to approve the plans by the Felixstowe Spa Beach Huts Association to relocate the huts back to their former site.
The huts had to be moved due to beach erosion, which meant the wooden chalets could be sited on neither the shore, nor the promenade due to partially blocking the walkway.
Mr Rhys Jones, who lives in Shotley, said: “Isn’t this super? What jolly, bracing news for a wonderful, bracing place. The beach huts are one of the obvious delights of the Felixstowe front and have been for years - as has been officially proved by the campaigners.
"As President of the Victorian Society, I can say that we are delighted that they are returning to the spa.
"As a local I am overjoyed. Well done to the team who fought so hard. As a result, an important part of our heritage has been saved - to bring a smile to the face of future generations.
"This isn’t about the past. It’s about what we want for our grandchildren. Mine will be ecstatic. It shows why joining together to create a voice for things we love is so important. Join us at the Vic Soc to get more done, please.”
Beach hut campaigners said they were hopeful that the end was in sight for a "rollercoaster" ride to get the huts reinstated.
READ MORE: Owners of 14 Felixstowe beach huts to hear on return home
The association has proposed creating 14 wooden platforms to act as a base for the huts in an effort to address the concerns about erosion.
In a report prepared for the cabinet meeting, the council's strategic director Kate Blakemore recommended that permission be granted, citing that the costs and risks of the plans would be borne by the association, which had "worked tirelessly" to get the huts reinstated.
Ruth Dugdall, who owns one of the 14 huts, said it had taken three years to get to this point and she would not be celebrating until the huts were "back on the beach".
READ MORE: Felixstowe beach hut owners 'thrilled' at move back home
She said: "What an absolute rollercoaster. It is just the twists in this saga have been completely unbelievable and here we are looking like winning to return the 14 beach huts back to where they began."
The location is said to be the oldest site for static beach huts in the country, dating back to the 1880s.
READ MORE: Felixstowe news
Ms Dugdall added: “After three years of campaigning, we are hopeful of a positive outcome tonight.
"This wouldn’t just be a good result for the beach hut owners, it would be a win for Felixstowe as the huts are a significant part of its history, dating back to its heyday in the 1880s.
"Through our campaign we have verified that Felixstowe was the first place in Britain to have static beach huts, at the Spa - and some of our huts date back to that time.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel