TOWN planners have voted narrowly in favour of a new house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Pokesdown.

The scheme will see a semi-detached house at 23 Clarence Park Road converted into a five-bedroom HMO. It attracted 10 objections and opposition from Pokesdown Community Forum.

Forum member Viola Wiebe addressed the planning board. "We are overloaded with this type of housing and other areas should take more of a share," she said.

"This needs to be a safe road for children and young people to live in. We do not want the young people to grow up thinking that the drunken or abusive behaviour described in the complaints of the residents is normal or acceptable."

According to council officers, only eight of 143 properties within 100m of the site are in HMO use, meaning an additional HMO in the area would not breach council by-laws which restrain such development.

Chairman David Kelsey said that having grown up as one of 11 children in a four bedroom house he felt HMO residents were unfairly demonised.

"I do feel very disappointed that we do categorise people that live in HMOs, it is something of a bugbear of mine, that we categorise everyone as being really annoying, horrible, antisocial people," he said.

"In my ward we have many good HMOs. Everyone has the right to live somewhere."

Members voted five in favour and three against.