POOLE council has said it would be open to discussions about a partnership to open new budget hotels in the town.

As previously reported, Travelodge has written to councils proposing an “innovative” way of releasing land for development.

It wants to replicate deals it has done in other parts of the country, with councils releasing land for new hotels and finding funding for development. Local authorities get to own the hotel buildings, or to sell them and keep Travelodge as operator.

Julian McLaughlin, head of growth and infrastructure, Borough of Poole, said: “We are delighted that Travelodge, a national hotel chain, invested £8million in their new hotel in Poole last year, demonstrating its confidence in the town as a leisure and tourist destination.

“The council has a positive approach to regeneration and we would be open to discuss any contribution Travelodge, or other hotel operators, feel they could make within the borough.”

Travelodge opened a £9.5million hotel last year at Poole’s Lifeboat Quay, creating around 31 jobs.

The company announced then it was looking for sites in Bournemouth, Swanage, Shaftesbury, Dorchester and Weymouth, which could generate 200 jobs.