COUNCILLORS have been urged to refuse plans for a new French restaurant.

Côte Brasserie has applied to open in the former Austin Reed clothing store at 1 Westover Road, which closed in May last year in what was described as a blow to one of the town's more prestigious shopping destinations.

However officers have recommended that permission be denied on the basis that the plans are a "dilution of primary shopping area".

Ward councillor David Smith has backed the scheme and 'called it in' to be discussed by the planning board.

"I believe the emerging retail study which will come forward will probably show we have an adequate supply of retail shops in the town centre and the introduction of a high quality restaurant will be an advantage for the town," he said.

The brasserie is the latest in a long series of new eateries seeking to open in Bournemouth over the past two years.

In the new BH2 development alone some 13 new restaurants have opened or are due to open over the coming months, including TGI Fridays, Nandos, Las Iguanas, Five Guys, the Handmade Burger Company and Miller and Carter.

Last year a branch of pizza chain The Stable opened in the building opposite Austin Reed.

The building Côte Brasserie hopes to occupy is listed Grade II and subject to the council's town centre area action plan, where "the loss of retail units will be resisted".

In their statement, planning officers state: "The premises are in a prominent corner location at the junction of Westover Road and Gervis Place, opposite the Arcade.

"It is important that the primary frontage is not weakened or diluted by the loss of a retail unit to A3 use, particularly in such a prime location.

"Based on this information supplied by the applicant and the available evidence on the retail need in the town centre, the proposal is deemed contrary to the policies in place to protect the function of the primary retail area."

No objections have been submitted.

The board will consider the plans at the town hall at 2.30pm on Wednesday, April 19.