HUNDREDS of objections have been tabled over plans to create a transit site for travellers in Bearwood.

Permission is being sought for the scheme on land next to Waggy Tails Rescue, off Magna Road.

If approved by BCP Council, a permanent toilet and shower block and ten pitches for use by travellers and gypsies could be placed on the site.

The application has been made by a Mr Diment, whose previous attempts to build homes and offices were refused by the former Borough of Poole local authority.

BCP Council’s planning department is currently assessing the application after it was met by a deluge of opposition since the plans were submitted in late May.

One of the many objectors is the neighbouring animal shelter.

Virginia Roberts, chairman of Waggy Tails Rescue, said trustees and staff are “extremely concerned” about the plans.

In the charity’s objection, she wrote: “The site is green belt and has been refused planning permission on a number of occasions and this application is inappropriate for the area, it affects the openness of the green belt by putting a permanent structure on the site. Access to the site is poor and just below the new traffic lights accessing Canford Paddock and in the future Canford Park, so will add to the traffic congestion whilst vehicles manoeuvre into the gateway.”

Ms Roberts added: “A site such as this adjacent to our property will be highly disruptive and unsettling to the animals, with vehicles potentially moving in and out at all times of the day.

“We have had no noise complaints from our neighbours in the 11 years the rescue has been on Magna Road but with caravans right up against the boundaries and the potential noise from the site it could easily have a knock on effect on the dogs and impact on our relationship with the neighbouring properties.”

The objections also include a petition from the “settled community of Bearwood and Merley” signed by 380 people.

The group submission says the plan is an inappropriate development on green belt land. It also says there are issues with biodiversity and geological conservation, foul sewage, access control and traffic.

A BCP Council spokeswoman confirmed the local authority had received in excess of 450 written representations, including the petition.

No date has currently been set in relation to when a decision on the application will be made.

As reported, the transit site plans have been backed by Dorset Police, with the force’s crime prevention advisor John Green saying the scheme would increase the force’s powers to deal with illegal encampments.

“Police commanders are persistently frustrated by not having an available transit site they can move an illegal encampment to under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994,” he said.

“Having a transit site which is available and allows only short stays would prevent unlawful encampments being set up. “

BCP Council has no such facility making evictions more complex. The nearest is managed by Dorset Council in Piddlehinton.