PROTESTERS against a controversial Solar Pyramid proposed for Poole were celebrating on Thursday night after winning the first stage of their fight.

Councillors rejected Poole cabinet's decision to approve spending up to £40,000 on a feasibility study and said the matter should be sent back to them with the strong recommendation that it be referred to full council.

Cllr Phil Eades, who had "called in" cabinet's decision to be scrutinised by the Call-In Scrutiny Committee, hit out at the mystery surrounding the proposed site, telling the meeting: "I find this a truly bizarre decision taken by cabinet. How can they make a decision to spend £40,000 of public money when we don't know where it's going to go?

"The residents of Poole don't believe that's true. People don't believe it's non-site specific. They (the Solar Pyramid Team) came to this council with a proposal to build this on Baiter and everyone knows it's true."

Cllr Eades also revealed that by using the Freedom of Information Act, he discovered at 4.31pm on Thursday that the Town Centre Management Board spent almost £2,000 of taxpayers' money wining and dining the Solar Pyramid Team at Compton Acres.

Under heavy questioning by committee members, Council Leader Cllr Brian Leverett said: "The fact is at this stage it is not site specific. It couldn't be site specific. It's not even scheme specific.

"Cabinet's proposal is about looking for a tourist attraction. It's a scoping study and no more."

Only Baiter Park residents were invited to attend a public meeting at the Lighthouse because there was "a great deal of concern and worry" from local people that the pyramid was to be sited on Baiter Park (Harbourside Park), he added.

Chairman Cllr Judy Butt said that she had attended the meeting where the Solar Pyramid Team gave a presentation on the project adding: "I must admit to the untrained eye the picture that was shown certainly gave me the perception it was Baiter."

Cllr David Gillard also questioned whether the existing infrastructure could stand the extra people attracted into Poole and how much would need to be spent.

Questions were also asked by the committee as to why it had not gone before the Local Economy Overview Group or submitted as a planning application.

Addressing the committee, former headmaster Michael Randall said: "How many people would turn up to it on a day like today? It becomes a white elephant for part of the year. Why are we spending ratepayers' money on something to promote a commercial enterprise? It will cast an immense shadow over my property."

Another resident said: "What I can't understand is why nobody has got the guts to tell us where it's going to be sited. We are not fools on Baiter. It's a waste of taxpayers' money."

Other residents questioned where activities that currently use Baiter Park would go, such as dog walkers, kite flying and Poole Afloat.

Summing up, chairman Cllr Butt said she was "extremely disappointed" in the way the matter has been handled by cabinet.

The issue comes before cabinet again on January 29.