PLANS to demolish a derelict, fire-damaged hotel on Bournemouth's East Cliff will be considered in September.

Residents in the area have expressed their desperation for the "eye-sore" Cliff End Hotel, which has stood empty in Manor Road since 2002, to be knocked down.

Last month the resident's committee for neighbouring Keverstone Court wrote to the council saying "we (council tax payers/voters) have had plenty of sympathy from the council and expressions of regret from the owners of the land building, but minimal action from either".

Now the borough's planning department has written back, saying the planning application submitted by the Gervis Meyrick Estate in December will be heard before next month's board.

The email from development management team leader Simon Gould says: "I am scheduling the application to be heard at September’s planning board.

"In most instances applications are determined at planning board, although it is possible members may defer their decision if they require additional information or further amendments made to a scheme.

"If the application is approved by members then the applicant would be able to commence their development, including demolition, once the planning decision notice has been issued."

The application covers demolition and also construction of a seven storey block of 65 assisted living flats.

Meyrick has divided its proposal into phases, with demolition as the first, in hopes that part of the scheme might be approved.

However Mr Gould said the preference expressed by some residents for an empty site over the existing structure was unlikely under planning policy.

"It will be for members to decide if they accept the principle of a phased redevelopment of the site, and they will need to give consideration that such an approach may lead to a vacant site for years to come once the building has been demolished," he said.

"Given the concern of the local community in respect of the existing building I presume some may see this as an acceptable notion, but this is not best practice in conservation areas."

The original Cliff End building dates back to 1882. It was devastated by a fire in December 2012, reportedly caused by a lightning strike, which gutted the roof causing debris to fall through to the basement, damaging its overall structural integrity.

Meyrick Estate last month told residents it would seek to demolish the hotel "as soon as possible after the grant of planning".