PLANNING chiefs have agreed contentious proposals to build 83 timber holiday lodges on green belt land at Merley.

Borough of Poole's planning committee rubber-stamped the plans for Merley Court Touring Park, despite a council officer recommendation for refusal.

More than 250 people also signed petitions opposing the scheme, citing the loss of touring caravan pitches at the site as a major concern.

Borough of Poole Cllr David Brown, representing Merley & Bearwood ward, spoke and voted against the application.

He said: "In my opinion the number and scale of this development is completely inappropriate in the green belt. Not to mention the loss of a valued touring caravan park which provided 160 pitches for visiting tourists."

However, Shorefield Holidays - who have owned Merley Court Touring Park since 2006 - say touring holidays will remain at the heart of their business.

A company statement said: "Merley Court has an existing small lodge development in the woodland next to the main park. We believe that having both touring and self-catering accommodation across our parks provides the best choice for all our guests.

"Please understand that Shorefield Holidays has over 300 camping and touring pitches across four parks in Dorset and Hampshire, three of these parks like many others around the UK combine both touring pitches and self-catering holiday accommodation."

Meanwhile Borough of Poole Cllr Phil Eades also criticised the decision to allow Shorefield to forge ahead with their plans.

"This sets a very worrying precedent not only for the future of this planning committee but for Poole's precious green belt," he added.

The plans agreed allow Shorefield to replace the existing 160 touring caravan pitches and caravan storage area with 83 timber lodges, each with a raised deck area and and two car-parking spaces.