THE demolition of a historic cliff top café has been reluctantly welcomed as the “least worst option”.

The diggers moved on the boarded up Point House Café in Southbourne after a planning battle that stretched over five years.

Developers are going to replace it with six two-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom penthouse.

Ray and Dorothy Fletcher opened the café in 1963.

It was popular with tourists and locals but the couple retired and closed it up the summer of 2007.

The building, which dates to the early part of last century, is the last on the cliff top before Hengistbury Head.

The council opposed the development but lost an appeal last year to Harrison Developments, who have now sold the project to Pennyfarthing Homes.

Resident Steve Cook, 53, a builder, said: “We’re disappointed to lose the facility of the cafe but glad to see it going now because it was getting to be an eyesore.

“I think the flats will look OK—better than what’s there now.”

John Oram, a retired local government officer, said: “The final plan was much better than the previous two. It has some relationship to the area, rather than just a monolithic, ugly block.

“It’s the least worst option.”

Stephen Hagger, 41, said: “We are sad the cafe went because there’s nothing else between the Hungry Hiker at Hengistbury Head and the Bistro on the Beach. We are not overly pleased with the change. But now it’s in a state of disrepair, it’s good they have started working.”

Pennyfarthing Homes, of New Milton, is calling the site Ocean Point.

Harrison Developments, of Talbot Woods, Bournemouth, describe it as “arguably one of the finest cliff top locations on the south coast”.