Latest News
Updates will initially have a red border
Beach Maintenance
-
Last winter (2024/25) storms brought beach levels on Avon and Friars Cliff very low, to the point where the concrete aprons on certain stretches of beach were clearly visible. At the same time the groynes became visibly more damaged, with rocks displaced and markers missing.
-
We began our campaign for BCP to carry out urgent maintenance work in January by submitting a Freedom of Information Request regarding beach maintainance spend. As expected this revealed that BCP had spent no significant sums on our beaches for 4 years, and in its first 6 years BCP had spent one fifth of the amount Christchurch Borough Council had spent on our beaches in its last 6 years.
-
Initially BCP confirmed no significant work was planned on our beaches before 2035. However, after regular pressure from FCRA, including going to local newspapers and TV, we were delighted to learn in July that BCP had successfully applied for a grant from the Environment Agency’s local levy to fund beach recycling (to raise beach levels) and groyne repair. The grant is for £290,000, to which BCP is going to add £50,000 (plus £30,000 in staff time) and CTC is going to add £10,000.
​8 Sep 25
FCRA Open Meeting : 4 September
-
Another well attended meeting with two guest speakers; thank you to everyone who turned up.
-
​Sarah Rogers (BCP Principal Licensing Officer) explained the intricacies behind some of the recent licencing applications in our area.
- The slides that Sarah referred to during her presentation are available at the link below.
-
She also supplied a contact number for BCP Council’s Out of Hours Noise Service - Tel: 0800 506 050.
-
Rosie Ashley-East showed her interesting film about our local Cuttlefishing industry.
-
-
Residents voted in favour of a £1,500 cost share arrangement with BCP towards the overall £4,500 refurbishment cost for the shelter adjacent to the toilets behind the Beach Hut Café.
-
The offer was made on the agreement that this would allow a faster delivery of the refurbishment.
-
-
All future FCRA meetings will start at 7:00pm
​8 Sep 25
VJ Day commemoration : 15 August ​
-
The 80th anniversary of VJ Day was commemorated at the Steamer Point radome bases.
-
Paul de Jonghe gave an interesting talk and Councillor Paul Hilliard laid a wreath.
-
Have a look on the FC Gallery page for a selection of photos.
​22 Aug 25
Two Riversmeet (2RM) Leisure Complex / Christchurch Civic Centre
-
The sale of the Civic Centre has resulted in the closure of the 2RM West car park on 13th Feb with the loss of approx 1/3 of the total car parking spaces available.
-
FCRA has flagged the loss of this amenity but there is little we can do about the reduction in parking.
-
Following this we have investigated the current pedestrian Right of Way (ROW) from Bridge St towards Stanpit Marsh, which is outside the boundaries of the Civic Centre sale.
-
Due to the poor state of the ROW, pedestrians and cyclists have had to traverse the car park; now that this is closed, access to the ROW is effectively blocked.
-
Your committee has taken up this issue and created a detailed position paper (available at the link below) and escalated the matter to senior levels of BCP drawing attention to their legal requirements under the Highways Act to maintain the ROW. This route is also an officially designated National cycle way.
-
The matter is now with BCP and we will provide an update when possible.
Water Pollution Update
-
There has been huge recent coverage in the press and social media about sewage and phosphorous/nitrogen levels in Christchurch harbour, and accusations of sewage being discharged directly onto Friars Cliff beaches.
-
In the December 2021 edition of Forum, FCRA wrote an article on the sewage/phosphorous/nitrogen situation as we saw it at the time.
-
The situation is evolving and FCRA has written a new article which provides an update.
-
A copy of this article is available by clicking the link below.
FCRA Member Subscriptions
-
We now use GoCardless to manage our direct debits.
-
The annual subscription for 2025 has been set at £5 per household; however, many households choose to pay more and we are very grateful for this. The system is therefore set up to offer four annual subscription amounts (£5, £10, £15 & £20) so that those who wish to contribute more can continue to do so.
-
To set up your direct debit, choose your subscription amount and follow the appropriate link:​​​​​​​​​​
​1 May 25
-
You will then be asked to fill in your details, and that's all there is to it!
-
The amount selected will be collected on 1 April each year until you let us know you want to cancel or amend.
-
We will email members each year, before the collection date, to give time to cancel or amend their direct debit before the next collection date.
-
Our Road Reps will continue to collect subscriptions in cash from those not signed up as we migrate.
-
If you have any problems or questions, please email enquiriesFCRA@gmail.com.
2025 FCRA Open Meetings
-
Dates : Thursday, 4 December
-
Start time : 7.00 pm
-
Venue : Highcliffe Sailing Club, Mudeford Quay, Christchurch BH23 4AB
-
Format : 1/4ly meeting for Friars Cliff residents to hear about local issues & events
: Usually includes a guest speaker who will discuss a specific topic​
: Further details will be provided above, closer to the meeting date
​8 Sept 25
