TUCKTON tea rooms could be nearly doubled in size after plans were approved.

Bournemouth council says the café's new toilet facilities will replace the Tuckton public toilets, which have been closed for many months.

A previous scheme to expand seating space at the popular venue on the banks of the River Stour was made in September last year, but was withdrawn after council officers expressed concern about its scale and effect on the Wick conservation area and Green Belt.

According to owners Bournemouth Boating Services, the new application was much the same but with a "reduced building footprint".

The firm said the existing building had too little inside space and suffered when poor weather rendered the exterior off limits.

"This current proposal shows a more modest extension to the front elevation, with an additional external seating area, which represents a significant reduction in size of the building from the previous proposal," a report by planning officer Caroline Whiteman states.

"The conservation officer has been consulted on the proposals and is satisfied that this proposal will have minimal impact upon the character and appearance of the conservation area."

Four letters of support were submitted from café customers, and a consultation last year showed 64 per cent of respondents wanted to see an extension.

The report also states: "This proposal includes plans for an extension to the seating area at the front of the café and extensions at the rear to include a covered bin store and four toilets which will essentially be replacing the public toilets nearby."

The Tuckton toilets have been closed for most of the four years since they were constructed. Earlier this summer the council said they were closed "due to bad bouts of vandalism" and would remain so.

As well as being on Green Belt land the tea rooms are within Wick village, which dates back to the 14th century and hosts numerous listed buildings, leading to its special protection as a conservation area.