DEVELOPERS have been thwarted in their hopes of persuading Ringwood Town Council to amend their view on a proposed gym and office complex in the town.

A request was put to members at a recent full council to allow New Forest District Council planning officers to make a decision on the plans at Forest Gate Business Park under delegated powers.

This was not possible due to Ringwood Town Council's planning committee recommending refusal and not accepting an officer's decision on the scheme.

Following lengthy discussion on whether to agree with the wishes of applicant GP Commercial Investments Ltd, members decided to uphold their stance.

This is understood to be a concern for the applicants, who could now see the operator of the proposed gym pull out of the scheme.

Plans for the four-storey office and gym were first considered by Ringwood Town Council's planning committee in February and members agreed to accept an officer's decision despite objecting to the development.

However, when amended proposals were discussed last month, with a reduction in the number of parking spaces, the authority's response changed to no longer allowing an officer to make the final decision.

Ringwood Town Mayor Tim Ward said: "We really could not see that the parking was sufficient.

"We just were not convinced by what they were saying to us at the meeting about the usage figures for the gym.

"Quite frankly what they were telling us was preposterous when you compare it to other gyms in the area."

After agreeing not to back down from this, the proposals are now scheduled to go before New Forest District Council's planning committee on Wednesday, May 9.

Despite Ringwood Town Council's objections the scheme is recommended for approval.

Speaking at the meeting Adam Bennett from Ken Parke Planning Consultants, the applicant's agent, reportedly said that there were contractual issues relating to the site and that if a

decision could not be made quickly, the gym operator could pull out of the agreement.