INDEPENDENT hotel owners fear a proposed new budget hotel in Bournemouth could threaten their livelihoods and exacerbate existing parking problems.

Several hoteliers and B&B owners in the Lansdowne area are objecting to a planning application seeking to transform three separate sites with a mix of student accommodation, a new Premier Inn, healthcare facility and offices.

According to developer Watkin Jones, the plans to revitalise three largely vacant sites in Oxford Road, Holdenhurst Road and the corner of Christchurch Road and St Swithun's Road would result in around £120million of investment being poured into the Lansdowne area.

But there are concerns about the impact of another budget hotel with no parking and of the student accommodation, which would provide more than 900 bedspaces.

Jackie Edwards, of the Bournemouth Accommodation and Hotel Association, said the land proposed for a Premier Inn has always been intended for office or employment use and has never been earmarked for a hotel. She said the developers should instead be encouraged to buy a current or derelict hotel site.

"By building another budget brand Bournemouth will not be dissimilar to every other town in the UK and this overkill could impact on struggling independent accommodation providers."

Chrissy Beere, who owns the Chelsea Hotel in St Swithun's Road, said: "Parking is already very difficult here and this hotel will either have no parking or paid for parking, which will just mean guests try and park in surrounding roads instead.

"We've already seen it with the Travelodge on Christchurch Road, it would make life very difficult for us at what is already a difficult time."

Rose Stone, owner of the Kantara Hotel, said: "We have problems with people parking here and walking across to the train station and also with students who are not meant to bring cars to Bournemouth but do."

And Katherine Avery, of the Lea Hurst Hotel, said: "It is also questionable whether we need another Premier Inn. Couldn't there be something better in the area for the community rather than another hotel? I'm sure there are ideas out there for something more beneficial."

Paul Morgan, who has run the Parkside Guesthouse for seven of the last 13 years, said turnover had dropped by 40 percent since the Travelodge had been built in Christchurch Road.

"If another similar establishment were to affect turnover in a similar manner we would be forced out of business and Bournemouth would simply lose choice for its visitors in exchange for more boring homogenisation."

The Meyrick Estates has also objected to the application, which is due to go before the planning board within the next two months.