London beach may hit rocks

Plans to create a "beach" on the South Bank have unexpectedly been thrown into disarray.

The beach, which would be created at the Hungerford coach park site, near the London Eye, would be used by sunbathers and tourists during the day and as a venue for open-air cinema screenings and barbecues in the evenings.

Organisers of the "seaside" were expecting to be given approval last night for the scheme, which would be open during July and August this year. But Lambeth councillors unexpectedly decided to delay the decision so they could visit the site.

Now South Bank Beach Ltd (SBBL), the company behind the plan, fears it will not have time to organise and install the beach, cinema screen and seating. SBBL's Brett Hlywa said despite backing from the South Bank Centre and the British Film Institute "there is now a risk this will not happen".

Council officers urged approval. But after hearing requests for a site visit from objectors including Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey, the planning committee voted to visit the site on 21 May.

It means the matter will not be back before councillors until 7 June at the earliest - leaving barely a month for the beach to be installed.