THE second application to designate 12 hectares of green belt land in Throop as a public park has attracted almost 400 letters of objection.

BCP Council submitted plans for the Hicks Farm Sang (suitable alternative natural greenspace) earlier this year after its own planning committee rejected the first attempt last year.

Despite its attempts to win support for the scheme, 399 letters of objection have been lodged ahead of a final decision being made.

The council is required to have a Sang in place before work can start on major developments in Bournemouth town centre, including the Winter Gardens project.

But the first application was refused permission by the council’s planning committee in October in the face of widespread opposition to the project.

“It is ironic that an area that is the last bastion of untouched countryside adjacent to the conservation area is being used to mitigate town centre development and reduce visitor pressure elsewhere,” a spokesman for Throop Village Conservation Group said at the time.

In February the council submitted a second application seeking permission for the creation of the Sang.

Several changes were made to the original project in a bid to overcome concerns, including moving the car park further south west and increasing the size of bunds around its boundary to screen it from view.

The access road would also be narrowed and fencing extended along the full length of the River Stour.

“Taken together, and in total, these are significant and important changes to the original submission refused by the committee and warrant reconsideration and support for the merits of the proposals,” a statement submitted by the council’s planning consultant, Chapman Lily Planning said.

However, the application has received 399 objections.

Among them is councillor Lisa Northover, who represents the area, and who has called the application in for consideration by the planning committee.

The application relates to a sensitive and highly valued area of open countryside that provides long distance views across the River Stour and which facilitates a green, verdant and undeveloped setting to the villages of Throop and Muccleshell,” she said.

“The change of use of this area of open countryside to a Sang and the introduction of a car park would fail to conserve or enhance the features of this landscape that contribute to the areas heritage, character and local distinctiveness, the amenities of surrounding residents and biodiversity.”

A decision on the application will be made in the coming weeks.