CIVIC chiefs are meeting to make a key decision that will shape part of the Hampshire coastline for generations.

Members of New Forest District Council are expected to approve a £1 million proposal to replace almost 120 beach huts that were destroyed during one of the worst storms in living memory.

The huts at Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, were ripped apart by 80mph winds that battered the area on February 14 last year.

Dubbed the Valentine’s Day storm, the ferocious weather also wreaked havoc at the nearby Marine cafe and restaurant, which had to be evacuated as rocks crashed through the windows and the seafront building began to flood.

The Marine has since been reopened but the remains of the beach huts were demolished in the interests of public safety.

Plans to replace them resulted in various designs being drawn up and the preferred option will be presented to the council’s ruling Cabinet next Wednesday.

A public exhibition of the proposals was attended by about 600 people and resulted in 355 written responses.

The majority of respondents selected the ‘inhabited roof design’, with the beach huts set back into the upper promenade, as their favourite option.