WESTBOURNE traders still reeling from the shock of Waitrose's imminent closure met last night to discuss their battle plan.

The Seamoor Road branch is due to close on October 24 when it will relocate to the site currently occupied by Morrison's on Ashley Road, Parkstone.

No new plans for the Westbourne Waitrose site have yet been submitted to Bournemouth Borough Council but retailers are keen to see it replaced by another food store.

Their first choice would be an M&S Simply Food outlet but rumours the site could be split up into a mix of smaller retail outlets and flats have sparked alarm.

Maria Theodoris, a member of Westbourne Traders' Association, said: "Traders are devastated. There's a real fear this could ruin Westbourne.

"Had we known earlier that Waitrose was thinking of leaving, perhaps we could have fought harder, but the fear is that it is now too late.

"The deal looks to have been done and the important thing now is to secure the best possible outcome for Westbourne.

"Ideally, we would love another food store to go in there but what we don't want is the site sitting empty for months or even years while they try and get planning permission. That would be awful."

And Cllr Barry Goldbart, who represents Westbourne and West Cliff, said: "There are lots of rumours that the site owner will put in an application for a mix of shops and some flats but nothing has been confirmed at the moment.

"It doesn't look like it will be another store but it's very much in the hands of the private developer.

"What the traders are worried about is what is going to happen to the site between Waitrose leaving and something else happening with it.

"They don't know if it will remain ugly and derelict or if it will be rented out in the short-term."