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New Visitor Information Centre Set For Site Of Burned Down Fishing Hut

A new visitor information centre and an ice cream and drinks kiosk are to be constructed on Felixstowe beach this summer.

The facilities are to be built on two vacant sites - one where a Peter's ice cream kiosk was smashed and wrecked by the waves, and the other where the Old Fishing Hut stood before it was burned down in an arson attack.

The fishing hut, which sold fresh shellfish and seafood, was torched 18 months ago.

Framlingham-based Hollins Architects, Surveyors & Planning Consultants, representing East Suffolk Council, which has submitted the planning applications for the new facilities, said: "The business located there at the time had been selling fresh shellfish and seafood from the sea front for five months, following the hut being empty for some time.

The fire on the Felixstowe seafront gutted The Old Fishing Hut - it was later demolished and its site has remained vacant (Image: ALAN BOYLE)

"It is unknown how long the Old Fishing Hut had been in this position. The business owner was unable to obtain insurance for the site and therefore could not rebuild the hut, nor reopen the business.

"The site is now cleared down to the existing slab and the council would like to reinstate a new hut that emulates the original structure."

The new hut will replace two huts on the prom off Undercliff Road West, near Pier Bight, and provide a purpose-built information point where visitors can find out more about the resort and its attractions.

Official opening of the Visit Felixstowe TIC beach huts on Felixstowe seafront back in 2016 following the closure of the town's Tourist Information Centre. Now a new bigger hut will open this summer due to growing demand (Image: Archant)

The current Visit Felixstowe huts opened in 2016 and now welcome around 10,000 visitors a year. The facility is manned by over 40 volunteers, known as Visit Felixstowe Ambassadors, who offer a wealth of knowledge and expert advice to visitors all year round, seven days a week if weather allows, providing leaflets and maps on attractions, places to stay, eat and shop, transport links and events.

The new larger hut will allow bigger internal displays, provide space for more information, be more Covid secure as there will be more space available to move around in than in the traditional huts, and will allow the two current huts to be removed.

Felixstowe is looking forward to a bumper summer with more people holidaying at home (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

The ice cream and drinks kiosk will be built on a redundant base with power on the beach off Sea Road between the Arwela and Manwick beach shelters.

Hollins said the plan was in response to the increased enquiries from independent local businesses, either wishing to expand or start a new business venture.

Smartphones Could Mean The End Of Popular New Forest Visitor Information Centre

A TOURIST facility used by more than 130,000 people a year could be axed in a bid to save £60,000 a year.

Civic chiefs are looking at closing the Visitor Information Centre that forms part of the New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst, which is packed with tourists in the summer.

The move, which follows the closure of other information centres in the Forest, could result in the loss of five jobs.

Staff deal with 136,000 inquiries a year, with as many as 1,000 visitors a day pouring through the doors at height of the tourist season.

There are fears that the number of people visiting the New Forest Centre - which includes a museum and a gift shop - will decline if the tourist facility closes.

Lyndhurst councillor Pat Wyeth said: "It's very difficult.

"The information centre has been a useful facility in the centre of the village and it will be a shame if it has to close, especially if it means people lose their jobs.

"But footfall has decreased considerably because more people are going online or using their smart phones to get the information they need.

"I just hope that if it does close there won't be any adverse impact on the New Forest Centre."

Funded by the council and the New Forest National Park Authority the building was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1988 and refurbished in 2003.

As well as a museum it boasts a reference library that houses the biggest single collection of Forest-related material that is available to the public.

Its website says the information centre offers "unsurpassed" local knowledge and expertise.

It adds: "Our staff enjoy the New Forest on a daily basis and are always willing to share local secrets to make your visit even more special.

"Pick up leaflets on all there is to see and do, plus the latest updates on offers saving you money around the whole Forest."

A council spokesman said: "We are reviewing our tourism service and as part of that, our future provision of the visitor information service within the New Forest Centre. A report is currently with staff as part of the consultation process."

The information centre is expected to shut next spring if the proposal is given the go-ahead by the council's ruling cabinet.

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