BEACH chalet owners in Cleethorpes have deemed the £12,000 quoted to renovate just one of their dilapidated neighbouring huts as "ridiculous".
As revealed in the Grimsby Telegraph, this was the amount quoted by Balfour Beatty to North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC), after it decided it was high time tenants brought their chalets up to standard, or gave up their lease.
A meeting of NELC's regeneration and environment scrutiny panel heard at least 16 of the 53 huts still standing are in a "poor state of repair" – including one of three owned by NELC.
However, the council had dismissed Balfour Beatty's quote as "poor value for money".
It is believed 50 people are currently on the waiting list for a beach hut and a number of the day chalets have fallen into a state of disrepair over the years, with many appearing to be unused.
However, Sue Lockwood, who has owned a chalet for the past two years, said there are plenty of people wanting one who would be willing to renovate them to a high standard themselves.
She said: "We bought our chalet for £3,000 and spent a further £2,000 on a new roof and door.
"How Balfour Beatty can come up with this £12,000 is beyond me.
"Every time we visit our hut people come and ask how they can get one.
"These people are willing to renovate them at no cost to the council.
"In the lease it states that if the chalets are allowed to go into disrepair they can be taken back by the council – so why haven't they done this already?"
Another chalet owner who did not wished to be named, sung the praises of her little beach house.
She said: "I come to mine every day in the summer and sometimes in the spring.
"I had mine renovated recently for my birthday and I know other tenants are busy improving theirs."
