PLANS to station touring caravans and tents on the grounds of an East Dorset football club have been thrown out by council planners.

The application for the Heathlands Football Club site in Lower Common Lane, Three Legged Cross sought permission to use the land between April and September.

Applicant John Bignell also wanted to use the existing shower block at the site.

The proposal followed a previous refused scheme, which was also dismissed on appeal in 2011.

Planning officers rejected the latest plans due to the harm arising from the “inappropriateness” of the proposal and a loss of openness in the Green Belt.

Objections to the scheme were put forward by Natural England, Verwood Town Council, Dorset County County as the mineral planning authority and four residents.

A planning statement on behalf of the applicant said the current level of “permanent and transit gypsy sites” in East Dorset was unmet and claimed it is unlikely to be satisfied for a number of years.

It added: “Consequently, the existing level of local provision and the need for more gypsy sites to meet the current need are important considerations. A grant of planning permission on a seasonal basis is considered reasonable in this case to give the local planning authority more time to provide transit sites in the district.”

Verwood Town Council raised concerns about the proximity of the site to areas of special scientific interest and claimed the scheme was contrary to planning policy.

An East Dorset District Council planning officer’s report, which led to the refusal, said: “Importantly, no very special circumstances have been made in support of the proposal.

“The council can demonstrate that even though there is a need for gypsy/traveller sites within East Dorset, this number is relatively low and as such the council believes it can fulfil the requirement within the five-year plan period. There is also availability in the Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) of pitches in Dorset. The proposal has been shown as likely to cause substantial harm to the protected heathland.”