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FCRA Christmas Carols - Sat 13 Dec

  • This was our third 'Christmas Carols on the beach' event and attendance was even better than in previous years; it brings FCRA events to a conclusion for 2025

  • Thanks to everyone who sang and helped to raise over £500 for Macmillan Caring locally

  • A special thanks also to The Beach Hut Cafe who regularly host and support a variety of fund raising events throughout the year​

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​17 Dec 25

Highcliffe Beach parkrun : Sat 13 Dec

  • After months of preparation and planning by the parkrun team, the inaugural event went ahead at 9am on Saturday 13th December

  • The weather was perfect and the event was a great success with 355 runners & walkers taking part

  • FCRA has been involved in getting this event going, including committee members who are part of the parkrun team and have volunteered, run & walked

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17 Dec 25

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FCRA Open Meeting : Thurs, 4 Dec

  • What an excellent year-end meeting and thank you to the approx. 75 people who attended and helped with all the mince pies

  • Paul Hilliard reminded us that BCP finances remain stretched

    • The new council tax surcharge for +£2m properties will not help, as that extra money will end up in central government coffers

  • Steve Alves provided an update on the Neighbourhood Plan

    • He stressed the importance of completing the survey to ensure your views are known; if you don't do this, your opinions cannot be taken into account​

  • ​This month's Forum magazine achieved an important milestone as it was the 250th edition​

​11 Dec 25

Beach Access and Security on the Green

  • The barriers to the beach and green have now been replaced allowing delivery vehicles to stop off the road, thereby making the bend to Penny Way safer.

  • However, BCP vehicles have been seen reversing onto the road due to poor design and, as a result, the Seaway Ave barrier will be modified to allow easier access to the green

    • The lock box will also be modified to improve access to the padlock

​8 Nov 25

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

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.

FCRA Action List â€‹

  • An up-to-date copy of our latest Action List is available by clicking the link below.

​30 Nov 25

FCRA Members' FACEBOOK Group 

  • If you are a Residents' Association member PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO THIS GROUP using the link below

  • The page will be a quick way of communicating local issues, events etc - including those mentioned above

2026 FCRA Open Meetings

  • Dates : Thursday - 19th March  |  4th June  |  10th September  |  3rd 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

​28 Nov 25

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