General Chat

"A spokesperson for the council commented: "Eype Beach does not provide an income to the council but the property does have associated management costs and legal liabilities", adding, "there is no reason why the council should continue to own it and recommends that it is sold."
West Dorset District Council is hoping to raise an estimated £1.5m from all its properties up for sale. They include houses and car parks.

More at:

http://uk.travel.yahoo.com/p-promo-3360475

What annoys me, is that the council doesn't own the land, it's the people. It's fair enough if the people don't want it anymore but is this the case?

Ha! Ramblers want a pathway to walk on around the coast of England - I hope they mess up this sale!!

Surely the tenants/owners of the houses are paying Council tax?
Don't they charge for car parking?
Don't they have any moral liability to the area?
It beggars belief - typical of the government today - if it doesn't create revenue (like day centres) we don't want it!
B*gger the people involved.

Hello born in Kent.....I just copied yahoos headline. Could you copy the link for the BBC's article so I can read it myself. I do like BBC news:)

I think you miss my point, who are the council but people representing us? Well in this case, the council tax payers in Dorset. Councils across the country sometimes seem to forget this and seem to think they are in charge. I remember a few years back someone complained to our local newspaper about the remarks of our council. They had said that they had saved the council money by imposing parking fees in a particular area. The gentlemen complaining reminded them that they had not saved the council tax payers anything as they had these additional fees to pay. They had also incurred costs as they needed to buy ticket machines and employ people to check the fees had been paid.

But whose money did the council use to buy the beach? The council's own money (by that I mean from their own personal pockets) or the money paid by council tax payers?

It's Catch twentytwo maybe? the council can no longer afford to maintain the beach, to pay for cleaning, access repairs,flagging, tide information boards, bins, insurance if someone were to injure themselves falling down a sandpit someone else had dug...?

If councils are having their funding cut they do have to make the choices 'on the voters' behalf'... which services are most necessary , is keeping the beach cost effective or is a council day care centre for the elderly more important., a library or the bus service ...?

just trying to see it from the other side :)

Well how do they expect to sell something that has no income and has management and legal liability costs. This will be the same situation for anyone who buys it surely. They would have to fence it off, pay public liability insurance etc and if anyone wants to use it for any purpose they will need the council's permission for that too. No good as a nudist beach either with nosy parkers viewing from the clifftop. lol Sounds like a no brainer to me.

Incidentally I do agree with Rose. I'd rather the beach was sold if it meant the money going to something like the libraries etc.

I've no idea who would buy it but stranger things have happened.