Beach campers: What BCP Council is doing to tackle tents issue

Concerns have been raised about the number of people pitching tents in recent months and BCP Council said about 100 groups were “moved on” last weekend.

Its leader, councillor Vikki Slade, said the scale of the problem had “never been experienced before” and new measures were being introduced in a bid to tackle it.

Since lockdown measures were eased dozens of reports of people camping on the area’s beaches have been made, particularly during warmer periods.

Read more: Bournemouth beach campers still in tents on seafront

The council has been criticised for its response to the issue with concerns raised about litter and the difficulty for beach cleaning teams manoeuvring around them.

On Monday a meeting with senior council officers and councillors was held, with new measures to tackle the problem discussed.

“We have never before experienced issues on our beaches in the scale that we’ve experienced this summer,” Cllr Slade said.

“We have a team of security staff who patrol the seafront throughout the night and beach rangers working from the early hours until late into the evening.”

Read more: Spate of Bournemouth beach campers anger residents

She said they “moved on” people camping in “around 100 tents” and said “a number” of eviction notices had been issued.

Early morning patrols have also been brought in by the council’s parking enforcement officers to clamp down on the number of people staying in car parks overnight without having paid.

Cllr Slade said these would carry on while further measures agreed on Monday would also be brought in.

“We have reviewed our approach and agreed that these additional activities will continue throughout the summer as necessary,” she added.

“In addition, we continue to liaise with the police and welcome any additional assistance they are able to provide.

“We will also be advising beach goers of the risks associated with overnight camping on our beaches and installing further signage.”