FORMER council leader Alan Griffiths has hit out at opponents to his plan to demolish Little Haven Cottage on Mudeford Quay.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition in a bid to save it, despite approval for the demolition being granted by a government planning inspector.

Mr Griffiths plans to replace the building with a new home but the decision has angered members of the public who claim it is part of Mudeford Quay's history and an asset to the area.

A petition, set up on website change.org, has attracted signatures from hundreds of local people and from others as far away as New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Dubai and Australia.

But Mr Griffiths said he would "urge any person considering signing a petition to check out the facts before blindly signing up to what they may consider to be a worthy cause when it is in fact a cause based on complete fabrication of the facts."

He said he is "amazed" by the response to the recent planning approval and said the building has no historic merit.

He added: "The facts are that the building is mostly 1950’s rendered blockwork, it has UPVC windows and the peg tiles are also not historic. The building is also failing and uninhabitable.

"The second application seeks to replace the building with one of almost identical size, shape and design. We will be replacing a tired and outworn badly built 1950s building with a new building of similar design which will be fit for purpose."

Opponents to the proposal said the building is admired by local people and a spokesman added: "This petition has been set up to have the decision to demolish Little Haven Cottage on Mudeford Quay reversed to keep Mudeford Quay beautiful and picturesque, just how it should be."