RESIDENTS and business owners are celebrating after council chiefs agreed to withdraw plans for a mobile snack bar at a beauty spot.
The West Cliff Green Residents’ Association met with the council and presented a feedback document branding the proposal “a truly horrifying, tasteless and inappropriate plan”.
But the association chairman Christopher Colledge is now overjoyed that the council agreed to terminate the current application and no kiosk will be in place this year.
“This would have been totally inappropriate and it’s refreshing that common sense has prevailed,” he said.
He praised Bournemouth Borough Council leader John Beesley and other councillors for arranging the meeting with residents.
He said: “It’s a great credit and accolade to them that they listened to the views of the local community.”
In the meeting a list of objections were submitted with 200 names, addresses and signatures of objectors.
They claimed the kiosk would be “a blot on the landscape and another Imax disaster”.
An ice cream van does visit the site each summer, but the residents and businesses were upset that having a catering kiosk at the end of St Michael’s Road would have blocked the sea views.
A new planning application is proposed ahead of next year but is expected to site the kiosk closer to the toilets and not blocking the views.
A new design, colour and maximum size will be part of any new plans to try and give an attractive look in keeping with the seaside location.
There was opposition to hot food being provided by the new unit and the litter they feared would be generated.
A new application is not expected to include hot food.
Ed Alexander, council contracts manager for Bournemouth Parks, said: “Following a very productive meeting with local people and ward councillors, the council has agreed to withdraw the current planning application and submit a revised version at a later date.
“The council is happy to work with people and has listened to concerns raised.
“These were around location, appearance and provision of hot food and we agreed to amend these aspects.
“We feel confident that an acceptable scheme for a catering unit at West Cliff Green can be reached and we will look to submit new plans in the future.
“We have agreed to continue to work with people and ward members on the scheme.”
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