THE Protect Sandbanks Group is "reserving judgement" on the revised £200m Sandbanks hotels project until full details are in the public domain.

Earlier this week the Echo published images of the scheme, which has been lodged with the Borough of Poole (BOP) by businessman Richard Carr.

Under the proposals, submitted on behalf of the owner of all three properties, FJB Hotel's John Butterworth, the Haven Hotel will become an apartment complex, the Sandbanks Hotel redeveloped as a new 185-bedroomed hotel, and the Harbour Heights becomes a 38-apartment hotel and spa.

Yesterday, Protect Sandbanks Group (PSG) chairman David Morley told the Daily Echo: "We are reserving judgement until we have seen the whole of the plans.

"We want to view all the plans and then we will be able to give a measured response."

The PSG group galvanised opposition to the scheme last year, when the council's planning department received more than 2,300 objections to the plans as they stood then.

Most of the opposition was focused on the Haven Hotel element of the project, which at that time did include plans for a ten-storey block.

Now, Mr Carr says that after listening to concerns of neighbours, the plans have been scaled back for the Haven site, with the ten storey block being reduced to six floors.

Council planning officers are currently processing the proposals, before they go online ahead of a public consultation in the next week or two.

The borough insists: "Everyone who made representations on the previous plans will be able to comment on these revised plans."

Initial computer generated images of the new proposals have attracted a mixed response on the Daily Echo website.

One reader said: "A new 185 room hotel built on the same footprint as the current hotel is a great plan for local and foreign employment."

Another commented: "Looking at the pics, part of the complex is looking down on the corner leading to the ferry.

"The guests will have to put up with traffic and buses passing all day long. Fumes, noise, etc.

"The most disappointing feature would be the loss of the toilets.

"Leave Sandbanks alone."

Meanwhile, another wrote: "Looks great and big improvement on existing. Not sure about the traffic going past though.

"Time to start restricting cars along that stretch of cost and encourage bikes and public transport."