PLANS for a new £8.5 million casino on the site of Bournemouth's former ice rink, which could create more than 150 new jobs for the town, have been unveiled.

Town Hall chiefs have objected to the Majestic casino development at the Westover Road site amid fears it could rival their own gambling plans and the Pavilion's future.

But the company behind the scheme - Waterimage Ltd, a joint venture between Luminar Leisure PLC and French firm Lucien Barriere - has revealed the objection was lodged too late.

Objections from the resort's current casino operators Stanley's and Gala will be considered later this month when Bournemouth magistrates consider a gaming certificate application.

Last month council chiefs told the Echo how they were preparing to fight plans for a second major casino in the heart of the town centre, opposite the Pavilion.

Council leader Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin said they were examining all the grounds for objecting to the application and insisted: "We don't want another casino.

"Overall we think it will cause a further deterioration in terms of Westover Road."

But during a presentation of plans for the former ice rink site, London-based Waterimage Ltd's solicitor Paddy Whur said: "The council has tried to lodge a late objection but they are out of time and we will be opposing it."

Stephen Godsall, Bournemouth council's executive director for major projects, said: "It is not yet clear whether the council will be able to make a formal objection to the Westover Road casino licence and there may need to be a preliminary hearing.

"However, I believe the Justices will be able to consider our concerns alongside those of other objectors. There are also concerns about whether the applicant has a valid planning consent and the council has reserved its position on this matter."

Waterimage Ltd director Brendan McLoughlin said: "The Majestic would be more than a casino; it would be a high quality entertainment complex catering for the over-30s.

"We plan to provide different elements to cater for varying markets such as small corporate events.

"Gaming would form only a small part of the ground floor which would boast an upmarket sportsman's bar, bistro, cabaret room and bar with live entertainment.

"Upstairs there would be an a la carte restaurant, cocktail bar and a poker room which could host major competitions.

"If we are successful in our gaming application we want to start work straight away and hopefully be ready to open later this year."

Milton Keynes based Luminar Leisure, which has 204 entertainment venues, currently holds the lease of the former ice rink.

Spokesman Karl Johnson said: "The ice rink already has full planning and licensing permission to develop an Oceana nightclub with a capacity of 2,200.

"This development has now been postponed to allow the new scheme to be progressed. If we are successful with the application we will develop the casino without delay.

"The Oceana concept would be progressed if casino permission is not achieved."

  • The gaming application hearing is due to start on January 21 and last five days.