BCP rolls out beach check app nationally after backing

A beach-crowd management app developed by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is set to go national after being backed by central government.

Initially launched in July last year, the BCPBeachCheck app has now become Beach Check UK, funded by the Local Digital Collaboration Unit at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and will soon include a number of popular tourist destinations elsewhere across the UK.

Providing a live traffic light system indicating busy areas (red), less busy areas (amber) and those areas with plenty of space available (green), the app is free to download and available from Google Play and the Apple App Store for anyone wanting to find their hot spot without the hotspot.

The app was created to help beach-goers comply with social distancing after visitors flocked to the coast in their thousands during the hot spells of 2020 but is now proving a useful asset to those seeking quieter spots, in line with social distancing guidelines.

The technology has been widely promoted to other UK local authorities through the National Coastal Tourism Academy which continues to lead the relationship management to on-board those whose beaches would otherwise be affected by overcrowding.

The app will also allow visitors to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole beaches the opportunity to discover restaurants and tourist attractions, locate toilet facilities and dog beaches and car parking facilities and forms part of the council’s Smart Place programme, designed to set BCP Council apart as a leader in innovative technology.

Philip Broadhead, Deputy Leader for BCP Council, said: “BCP Council is leading the way to promote much-needed technology, in an effort to encourage the public to keep themselves safe. Our Beach Check app was born from our exciting Smart Place ecosystem, a programme that sets us apart, and firmly cements our reputation as leaders in innovative technology. Collaboration is at the centre of what we do, underpinned by our shared vision of an open culture and co-creation, and evidenced through our work in leading other UK towns and cities to embed smart technology to improve communities.”

Local Government Minister Luke Hall said: “We want everyone to safely enjoy a well-deserved summer this year, while continuing to minimise the spread of the coronavirus. That’s why the government is funding Europe’s first innovative beach check app to allow people to check whether beaches are busy before travelling to avoid a surge of visitors. This will allow coastal communities to carefully welcome back visitors and will help local areas bounce back from the hardship faced by the pandemic.”