FORMER toilets which have been converted to a beach hut at Charmouth can now be used more often for holiday accommodation.

The loos, adjacent to the beach car park off Lower Sea Lane, were converted in 2002 but initially were only permitted for day time use.

Since 2013 the owners have been allowed occasional overnight stays for a maximum of two weeks, including family and friends.

Now Dorset Council’s area planning committee has agreed to further relax that condition which will effectively allow unrestricted holiday use, including holiday lets, between March 1st and October 31st.

The parish council had objected to the proposed changes claiming that the original conditions of use were adequate and should not be relaxed.

A letter to the council from Anthony Farmer asked the council to convert the beach hut back to toilets to help deal with the influx of visitors to the area since lockdown started.

Cllr Sarah Williams argued that the existing use was adequate given the limited size of the chalet, but was told that the Government are asking councils to relax any conditions which would encourage an extension of the domestic holiday season.