NEW plans for a £150million hotel, apartment and leisure complex on Bournemouth’s Winter Gardens site have been thrown out by Bournemouth councillors.

Planning board members last night voted to refuse outline permission for the scheme, despite a recommendation by their officers to grant approval.

The decision came after almost two hours of heated debate with opponents of the proposals and supporters both having their say on the controversial plans.

Bournemouth Civic Society objected to the scheme, along with Peter Adams, representing local residents who claim they were not consulted fully on the application.

But Anthony Ramsden-Geary, from the developers’ agent Planning Solutions, insisted residents had been consulted and that reducing the height of the hotel building by one storey would ease their concerns.

Recommending that the amended plans should be given the go-ahead, planning officer Steve Davies described residents’ concerns about the impact of the hotel building as “genuine”.

Cllr Barry Goldbart said the changes had “done the trick” for him and Cllr Mike Greene said: “The benefits it will bring to the centre of town are considerable.”

But town centre ward councillor David Smith said: “There is a lot about this planning application that does not sit comfortably with me; let’s start afresh with some correct information.”

Planning board member Cllr Roger West also voiced numerous concerns, along with board member Cllr Beryl Baxter.

Chairman Cllr David Kelsey moved that the application be refused, adding: “The original IMAX design was very nice; we ended up with an absolute monstrosity. Taking off one floor is a bit of a token gesture; I think it needs to be completely re-thought.”

His move to refuse, citing concerns including unacceptable and overbearing scale and design, coupled with absence of detail, was carried by a unanimous vote.

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