PLANS to turn a council-owned lodge into a holiday let are likely to be given the green light - despite dozens of letters of objection.

The plans for the former ranger's cottage at Steamer Point Nature Reserve in Christchurch, will go before the borough's planning committee on Thursday, recommended for approval.

The conversion of the cottage, originally part of the Ministry of Defence site, has already been approved by members of the council's resources committee.

The let is likely to earn the council £10,000 a year if approval is given at planning to remove a condition allowing the building to be let out.

Bought by the council on August 16, 1983, the cottage was converted to a house, and until recently, was lived in by a council countryside ranger.

The staff member has now retired, and the lodge is empty and boarded up.

Around £24,000 of refurbishment works have already been given the green light by the resources committee.

But objections by members of the public raise concerns about the house being used for stag and hen parties, barbecues and drunken parties, a report to the planning committee says.

Other issues raised by those opposing the scheme include potential increase in litter and damage to the nature reserve.

One also referred to a condition on a previous application in 1984, which said any other use than a warden's house "would be inappropriate and likely to place unacceptable pressures on the site and locality."

Responding to concerns about increased traffic to and from the site, a report to the planning committee says: "The existing use allows the free movement of vehicles to and from the site and it is not anticipated that the

private rental of the property would generate a significant increase in vehicular movements that would cause harm to the character of the area or result in danger or harm to the users of the woodland."

It adds: "Other concerns raised include the potential for hen/stag parties and the increased potential for fires/barbeques and increased litter which would be harmful to wildlife.

"This is a hypothetical scenario that will rely on strict control of the community and open spaces department rangers who are on the site daily, and also the careful terms of the letting giving due regard to the sensitivities of the site as a Local Nature Reserve.

"These concerns are however not in themselves sufficient reasons to justify the refusal of the application."